Natural supplements for improving insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake in skeletal muscle

Front Biosci (Elite Ed). 2015 Jan 1;7(1):94-106. doi: 10.2741/E720.

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes is a common metabolic disorder characterized by resistance to the actions of insulin to stimulate skeletal muscle glucose disposal. In light of the staggering financial/human cost of type 2 diabetes, there is considerable need for safe and effective agents that can be used to prevent and/or adjunctively treat the disease. Available evidence suggests that a number of natural supplements, including cinnamon, biotin, fenugreek, ginseng, banaba, and alpha-lipoic acid, have the potential to reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes in the large at-risk population. The evidence also suggests that, when used adjunctively, these natural products are likely to help clinicians achieve optimal glycemic control, improve long-term prognosis, and/or minimize the need for insulin therapy in type 2 diabetics. More research, particularly well-designed, long-term human clinical trials, is certainly needed to accurately define the value and place of these supplements in diabetes prevention and management.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biotin / therapeutic use
  • Cinnamomum zeylanicum
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / drug therapy
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / prevention & control*
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Lagerstroemia
  • Muscle, Skeletal / drug effects*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
  • Panax
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Thioctic Acid / therapeutic use
  • Trigonella

Substances

  • Plant Extracts
  • Biotin
  • Thioctic Acid
  • Glucose