IC-5™ – Scientific Research & Rationale

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By Brett Hall, RD

Two of the powerful ingredients in IC-5 have been tested head to head with the leading oral diabetic drug called Metformin™, and have (both separately) been found to be comparable in effectiveness to Metformin™.

The actions of IC-5 in helping to control blood sugar levels include:

  • Mimicking the actions of insulin directly;
  • Increasing glucose metabolism in liver and muscle cells;
  • Increasing insulin response to blood sugar;
  • Increasing expression of insulin receptors;
  • Decreasing fasting blood sugar levels;

  • Decreasing fasting insulin levels;
  • Decreasing insulin resistance;
  • Reducing sugar absorption in the intestine;
  • Actually helping regenerate the functionality of insulin secreting cells (beta cells);
  • Up-regulating sensitivity of insulin receptors in muscle cells;
  • Interfering with production of blood sugar in the liver.

The following is a description of how the ingredients in IC-5 accomplish these actions.

Cinnamon Extract

  • This potent insulin-mimicking nutrient is derived from a special water soluble extract of the bark of the cinnamon tree. The specific active strain of this valuable spice bark is called Cinnamomum burmannii, and is grown in the forests of Indonesia.
  • Research shows that cinnamon extract has the following effects:
  • Acts as insulin mimetic, helping to more effectively manage blood sugar following a carb-rich meal. Cinnamon can actually stimulate insulin receptors much like insulin itself, like an imperfect key that still works in the lock to open the cell door.1 This enhances sugar movement into muscle cells where it can supply energy and be burned as fuel.
  • Increases glucose metabolism by up to 20-fold. This helps keep blood sugar low and stimulate fat burning due to the clearance of excess sugar from the blood stream.2
  • Supports glucose transport mechanisms by enhancing the insulin signaling pathways, thus disposing of glucose more efficiently.
  • This translates to much lower blood sugar response to high glycemic meals. In this study subjects were fed rice pudding with or without cinnamon. Results show that blood sugar increases were cut by over 50% by the cinnamon.3 The chart and table below show the actual results.

blood glucose charts

Berberine

  • Berberine is a rare plant alkaloid that is native to many plant species, including Berberis vulgaris. It has been used for many centuries in Ayurvedic medicine by healers in India.
  • Berberine regulates insulin secretion from the beta-cells, helping increase insulin response to sugar in the blood stream.4 This, in turn, helps clear sugar from the blood stream faster.
  • Berberine also induces proliferation of insulin receptors.5,6 So, not only does it help to increase the amount of insulin produced in response to sugar, it actually increases the number of insulin receptors on hungry muscle cells, allowing more sugar to be moved more quickly from the blood stream into muscles where it’s needed.
  • In a recent study published in the prestigious journal Metabolism, researchers tested Berberine head to head against Metformin™ (the most popular oral hypoglycemic diabetes drug). They state in their summary, “The hypoglycemic effect of berberine was similar to that of metformin.”7 Their findings during the 3-month trial of Berberine included the following:
  • 21% decrease in Hemoglobin A1c (the long term measure of blood sugar control);
  • 35% decrease in fasting blood sugar levels;
  • 28% decrease in fasting plasma insulin;
  • 44.7% decrease in Insulin Resistance (likely due to the lowered chronic levels of insulin in the blood stream).

Pterocarpus Marsupium Extract

  • Also known as the Indian Kino Tree, it is the soluble fractions of the heartwood of this tree that provide the biological effects.8
  • This tree grows in many parts of India.
  • Pterocarpus Marsupium is one of the drugs used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus by Ayurvedic physicians in India.9
  • An aqueous infusion of the heartwood has been found to reduce glucose-absorption from the gastrointestinal tract and improve insulin and pro-insulin levels by stimulating insulin production from the beta-cells of the pancreas.10
  • It is effective in beta cell regeneration (stimulates the Beta-cells of the Islets of Langerhans to create more insulin, thus enabling the pancreas to function at its normal and optimum capacity).11
  • It has been found in a recent research study to reduce PBS (post-prandial blood sugar, which is, blood sugar level 2 hours after a meal) by 21%.12
  • In the same study researchers stated that “Pterocarpus extract has been shown to be as effective as Metformin (a popular diabetic medication) at lowering blood sugar.”

4-hydroxy-isoleucine (4HI)

  • 4-hydroxy-isoleucine is a natural phytochemical isolated from an herb called fenugreek, also known as Trigonella foenum-graecum L.
  • Fenugreek is an herb that is highly produced in Arabic regions and India.
  • One of the main mechanisms of action for 4HI is that it has been shown to decrease insulin resistance by up to 53%.14
  • Another mechanism of action is that it can inhibit some of the absorption of sugars through the intestine into the blood stream.13
  • And finally it has been scientifically shown to enhance glycogen synthesis in muscle cells following exercise by up-regulating the activity of insulin receptors in muscle.15 This has the dual effect of increasing glycogen storage while reducing fat storage.

R-Alpha-Lipoic Acid

  • Alpha lipoic acid (LA), also known as thioctic acid, is a naturally occurring compound that is synthesized in small amounts by plants and animals, including humans.
  • LA also contains an asymmetric carbon, meaning there are two possible optical isomers that are mirror images of each other (R-LA and S-LA). Only the R- isomer is naturally made in the body. (This is the one in our product.)
  • After oral dosing with racemic LA, peak plasma concentrations of R-LA were found to be 40% to 50% higher than S-LA, suggesting R-LA is better absorbed than S-LA.16
  • LA has been found to increase glucose uptake in muscle cells.17
  • A placebo-controlled study of 72 patients with type 2 DM found that oral administration of racemic LA improved insulin sensitivity by 25% after 4 weeks of treatment.18
  • Data from animal studies suggests that the R-isomer of LA may be more effective in improving insulin sensitivity than the S-isomer.19

In Germany, LA is approved for the treatment of diabetic neuropathies and is available by prescription only.

==> Save 25% On IC-5™ Today!

References

  1. Anderson RA, Broadhurst CL, Polansky MM, Schmidt WF, Khan A, Flanagan VP, Schoene NW, Graves DJ. Isolation and characterization of polyphenol type-A polymers from cinnamon with insulin-like biological activity. J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Jan 14;52(1):65-70.
  2. Jarvill-Taylor KJ, Anderson RA, Graves DJ. A hydroxychalcone derived from cinnamon functions as a mimetic for insulin in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. J Am Coll Nutr. 2001 Aug;20(4):327-36.
  3. Hlebowicz J, Darwiche G, Bjorgell O and Almer LO. Effect of cinnamon on postprandial blood glucose, gastric emptying, and satiety in healthy subjects. Am J Clin Nutr 2007; 85: 1552-1556.
  4. Rayasam GV, et al. Identification of berberine as a novel agonist of fatty acid receptor GPR40. Phytother Res. 2010 Aug;24(8):1260-3.
  5. Zhang H, Wei J, Xue R, Wu JD, Zhao W, Wang ZZ, Wang SK, Zhou ZX, Song DQ, Wang YM, Pan HN, Kong WJ, Jiang JD. Berberine lowers blood glucose in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients through increasing insulin receptor expression. Metabolism. 2010 Feb;59(2):285-92.
  6. Kong WJ, Zhang H, Song DQ, Xue R, Zhao W, Wei J, Wang YM, Shan N, Zhou ZX, Yang P, You XF, Li ZR, Si SY, Zhao LX, Pan HN, Jiang JD. Berberine reduces insulin resistance through protein kinase C-dependent up-regulation of insulin receptor expression. Metabolism. 2009 Jan;58(1):109-19.
  7. Jun Yina,b,*, Huili Xinga, and Jianping Yeb. Efficacy of Berberine in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes. Metabolism. 2008 May ; 57(5): 712–717.
  8. Sawhney, P.L. and Seshadri, T.R. 1956. Special chemical components of commercial woods and related plant materials: Part IV - Phenolic components of some Pterocarpus species. Journal of Science in India, Res. 15C, 154.
  9. Dravya Gund Vigyan (Baidyanath Prakashan); Gaon Ki Aushadhi Ratna (Kalida) Part I and II, Bhavprakash Nighantu.
  10. Dharmadhikari, S.D., Patki, V.P. and Dashputra, P.O. 1984. Study of mechanism of hypoglycaemia due to Pterocarpus marsupium. Abstr of paper presenled of XVIth Ann Conf.. Indian Pharmacol Soc., Ajmer, Dec. 28-30, 1983. Indian J Pharmacol 16, 61.
  11. Ahmad F, Khan MM, Rastogi AK, Chaubey M, Kidwai JR. Effect of (-)epicatechin on cAMP content, insulin release and conversion of proinsulin to insulin in immature and mature rat islets in vitro. Indian J Exp Biol. 1991 Jun;29(6):516-20.
  12. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Collaborating Centres, New Delhi. Flexible dose open trial of Vijayasar (Pterocarpus marsupium) in cases of newly-diagnosed non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Indian J Med Res 1998 Nov;108:253.
  13. Hannan JM, Ali L, Rokeya B, Khaleque J, Akhter M, Flatt PR, Abdel-Wahab YH. Soluble dietary fibre fraction of Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) seed improves glucose homeostasis in animal models of type 1 and type 2 diabetes by delaying carbohydrate digestion and absorption, and enhancing insulin action. Br J Nutr. 2007 Mar;97(3):514-21.
  14. Gupta A, Gupta R, Lal B. Effect of Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) seeds on glycaemic control and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a double blind placebo controlled study. J Assoc Physicians India. 2001 Nov;49:1057-61.
  15. Ruby BC, Gaskill SE, Slivka D, Harger SG. The addition of fenugreek extract (Trigonella foenum-graecum) to glucose feeding increases muscle glycogen resynthesis after exercise. Amino Acids. 2005 Feb;28(1):71-6. Epub 2004 Dec 2.
  16. Hermann R, Niebch G, Borbe HO, et al. Enantioselective pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of different racemic alpha-lipoic acid formulations in healthy volunteers. Eur J Pharm Sci. 1996;4:167-174.
  17. Estrada DE, Ewart HS, Tsakiridis T, et al. Stimulation of glucose uptake by the natural coenzyme alpha-lipoic acid/thioctic acid: participation of elements of the insulin signaling pathway. Diabetes. 1996;45(12):1798-1804.
  18. Jacob S, Rett K, Henriksen EJ, Haring HU. Thioctic acid--effects on insulin sensitivity and glucose-metabolism. Biofactors. 1999;10(2-3):169-174.
  19. Streeper RS, Henriksen EJ, Jacob S, Hokama JY, Fogt DL, Tritschler HJ. Differential effects of lipoic acid stereoisomers on glucose metabolism in insulin-resistant skeletal muscle. Am J Physiol. 1997;273(1 Pt 1):E185-191.