Human and animal studies confirm that gymnema has pronounced effects on blood sugar, at least among diabetics. Within the past two decades researchers have determined that gymnema extracts may even play a role in the treatment of Type I diabetics, who typically need daily injections of insulin to control the disease. Gymnema taken orally lowers diabetics' blood glucose levels and improves blood fat and cholesterol profiles.

Recent findings Researchers at Georgetown University compared the effects of chromium, vanadium, and gymnema in experimental rats experiencing sugar-induced hypertension. Unlike the trace minerals, the herb reduced blood cholesterol but did not reduce the high blood pressure caused by dietary sugar.     Do scientists know how it works? Researchers at India's University of Madras in the early 1990s found that high doses (40 gm of dried herb daily) of gymnema extracts may actually help to repair or regenerate the pancreas's beta cells, which play a crucial role in the production and secretion of insulin. Few other substances, synthetic or natural, offer such promise for reversing beta cell damage and at least partially reducing diabetics' need for insulin and other drugs. On the other hand, studies indicate that animals that do not have diabetes do not produce more insulin after consuming gymnema.   Safety Taking gymnema may require dosage adjustments of other antidiabetic drugs. Some of gymnema's effects may be enhanced by antidepressant medications, fenfluramine, salicylates (including aspirin) and tetracyclines. Its actions may be decreased by use of oral contraceptives, epinephrine, phenothiazines, marijuana, and thyroid hormones. Ask The Expert about Women's Health (click)

Product Recommendations Gymnema leaves have been used for centuries in the traditional Indian system of Ayurvedic medicine. The term "destroyer of sugar" is traditionally used for Gymnema because chewing the leaves will abolish the taste of sweetness. On Sale Now  Blend of current scientific research and traditional herbal medicine. Contains Gymnema standardized extract, the Ayurvedic "sugar destroyer." and a blend of herbs and carotenoids with supportive properties. Contains GTF Chromium part of an important cofactor for insulin as well as other herbs and minerals used in support of healthy blood sugar levels.

Gymnema References

Gymnema Abstracts
Shimizu K et al. Suppression of glucose absorption by some fractions extracted from Gymnema sylvestre leaves. Division of Veterinary Pharmacology, Nippon Veterinary and Animal Science University, Tokyo, Japan J Vet Med Sci, 1997 Apr 59(4):245-51.

Extracts containing gymnemic acids, which were extracted from the leaves of Gymnema sylvestre (GS) as nine fractions, were evaluated for their effects on a high K(+)-induced contraction of guinea-pig ileal longitudinal muscles, on glucose transport mediated by the difference of glucose-evoked transmural potential difference (delta PD) in the inverted intestine of guinea-pig and rat, and on blood glucose in rat. Among nine fractions obtained by high performance liquid chromatography from the extract, f-2 and f-4 strongly suppressed the high K(+)-induced contraction of the ileal muscle, f-3 and f-5 did so moderately, and f-8 and f-9 did so weakly, whereas the other fractions did not affect it. The degree of suppression of high K(+)-induced contraction by f-2 at 74% was almost the same as that of f-4 at 67%, at concentrations of 0.1 mg/ml. The suppressed contraction by f-2 or f-4 was recovered by adding 5.5 mM pyruvate. The delta PD increased by 5.5 mM glucose in the inverted intestines of guinea-pig and rat were equally suppressed by 0.1 mg/ml of f-2 or f-4 to 40%. In a rat sucrose tolerance test, f-2 and f-4 suppressed the elevation of blood glucose level. Both f-2 and f-4 suppressed the contraction of guinea-pig ileal longitudinal muscle, interfered with the increase in delta PD induced by glucose in the inverted intestines of guinea-pig and rat, and inhibited the elevation of blood glucose level. In conclusion, it is suggested that some of the extracts containing gymnemic acids from GS leaves suppress the elevation of blood glucose level by inhibiting glucose uptake in the intestine.