L-Arginine for Sexual Function

Posted on October 11, 2024 by Robert Barrington

L-arginine is a proteinaceous amino acid that is present in all complete proteins and widely distributed in most foods to varying degrees. Intakes of L-arginine in a typical diet are present in gram amounts and this L-arginine is used for a number of functions including the rebuilding of skeletal muscle during tissue rebuilding. Apart from its role in tissue construction, L-arginine plays a role as it is a precursor for the signal molecule and neurotransmitter nitric oxide. Studies show that supplements of isolated free form L-arginine in combinations with antioxidants may significantly increase synthesis of nitric oxide, and that this may improve sexual function. Antioxidants help with this process because they protect the synthesis enzyme nitric oxide synthesis from degradation and this increases flux through the reaction. In particular, L-arginine may be useful in erectile dysfunction, sperm concentration and sexual pleasure. L-arginine may also increase growth hormone release and this may have secondary effects of sexual function including increases in sex drive. 

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Kobori, Y., Suzuki, K., Iwahata, T., Shin, T., Sadaoka, Y., Sato, R., Nishio, K., Yagi., H., Arai, G., Soh, S., Okada, H., Strong, J. M. and Rohdewald, P. 2015. Improvement of seminal quality and sexual function of men with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia syndrome following supplementation with L-arginine and Pycnogenol®. Archivio italiano di urologia, andrologia: organo ufficiale [di] Societa italiana di ecografia urologica e nefrologica. 87(3): 190-193
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Soy and Testosterone

Posted on October 10, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Phytoestrogens are a group of chemicals found in plants that may have effects on animals and human hormone balance. Fruits and vegetables are high in phytoestrogens, with soybeans being particularly rich in phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens affect physiological parameters by interacting with the oestrogen receptors which are categorised as alpha and beta. By interacting with these receptors, phytoestrogens have the ability to mimic the effects of oestrogen or to block its effects, depending on the concentrations of the phytoestrogen, the hormonal conditions within the animals or individual, as well as the presence of other phytochemicals. Rats fed phytoestrogens can accumulate them in their tissues including their blood. In male rats, isoflavones, one variety of phytoestrogen, can significantly decrease prostate weights as well as lower circulating levels of testosterone and androstenedione, two hormones that are pivotal to male sexual performance and correct physiological regulation. This suggests that high levels of phytoestrogens may have detrimental effects on male sexual characteristics and may harm male sexual reproductive success in rats. 

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Weber, K. S., Setchell, K. D. R., Stocco, D. M. and Lephart, E. D. 2001. Dietary soy-phytoestrogens decrease testosterone levels and prostate weight without altering LH, prostate 5alpha-reductase or testicular steroidogenic acute regulatory peptide levels in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Journal of Endocrinology. 170(3): 591-599

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Cordyceps sinensis: Anti-Ageing Effects?

Posted on October 9, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Cordyceps sinensis is often described as a medicinal mushroom, but in reality this is not true. Cordyceps sinensis is a fungus that grows on Lepidoptera lava, which are colloquially called caterpillars. Cordyceps sinensis is used in Traditionals Chinese Medicine for a variety of purposes that relate to improving health including increasing sexual function, increasing energy, reducing weakness and improving cognition. The general health effects would suggest that Cordyceps sinensis is beneficial as an anti-ageing tonic and a number of studies have investigated the anti-ageing effects of the fungus. For example, in one study researchers administered Cordyceps sinensis to rats to assess some of the parameters associated with aging. The results of the study showed that Cordyceps sinensis was effective at increasing the activity of a number of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, was able to reduce the amount of lipid peroxidation experienced by the tissues of the rats, and also reduced levels of monoamine oxidase, the enzyme responsible for breaking down monoamine neurotransmitters such as dopamine and noradrenaline. Therefore the Cordyceps sinensis appeared to show the effects that would be expected to be seen with an anti-ageing tonic, supporting its use in traditional medicine in this role.  

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Ji, D. B., Ye, J., Li, C. L., Wang, Y. H., Zhao, J. and Cai, S. Q. 2009. Antiaging effect of Cordyceps sinensis extract. Phytotherapy Research: An International Journal Devoted to Pharmacological and Toxicological Evaluation of Natural Product Derivatives. 23(1): 116-122

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Cordyceps

Posted on October 8, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Cordyceps is a collective name for a number of species of fungus including C. sinensis, C. militaris, C. pruinosa and C. ophioglossoides. The fungus, which is found growing on particular species of caterpillars, is dried and used as a traditional medicine, particularly in Chinese Traditional Medicine. Chemical analysis of cordyceps has shown that it contains a number of compounds including ergosterol, cordycepin, 3’-amino-3’-deoxyadenosine, homocitrullyl aminoadenosine, adenine, ophiocordin, balanol, myrosin, macrolides, cepharosporolides, cordycepic acid and D-mannitol. Variation in chemical composition between the various Cordyceps species have been shown to exist. A number of studies have verified that the chemical constituents of cordyceps includes anti-tumour, anti-metastatic, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, insecticidal, antimicrobial, hypolipidaemic, hypoglycaemic, anti-ageing, neuroprotective and renoprotective effects.

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Ng, T. B. and Wang, H. X. 2005. Pharmacological actions of Cordyceps, a prized folk medicine. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. 57(12): 1509-1519

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Fenugreek

Posted on October 7, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is an annual plant belonging to the Fabaceae or legume family of plants. The plant grows to approximately 1 to 2 feet in height and it produces yellow or white flowers. Pods grow on the plant, and each pod contains around 10 to 20 seeds. These seeds have important medicinal effects. These medicinal effects include a use in Ayurvedic medicine as a digestive aid. Evidence supports a role for fenugreek as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antiobesity, anticancer, hepatoprotective and antihyperlipidaemic. Fenugreek may also regulate sexual function. Fenugreek is grown mainly as a food in Europe, Asia and Africa, where it is used as a condiment or spice. Trigonella refers to the triangular shaped leaves that are characteristic of the Trigonella genus. Only the leaves and the seeds of fenugreek are edible. The seeds contain a fibre called glucomannan which is added to bread in Africa to improve its consistency, and which may help regulate blood sugar. The phytochemicals in fenugreek that might explain its medicinal effects include saponins, steroids, alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenes, phenolic acid derivatives, amino acids and fatty acids and their derivatives. 

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Nagulapalli Venkata, K. C., Swaroop, A., Bagchi, D. and Bishayee, A. 2017. A small plant with big benefits: Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum‐graecum Linn.) for disease prevention and health promotion. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research. 61(6): 1600950

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Fenugreek Seeds Against Diabetes

Posted on October 4, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum‑graecum) has been evidenced to be an effective preventative and treatment agent for type 2 diabetes. This may relate to the soluble glucomannan fibres that are contained within the seed that may slow the absorption of glucose from the gut. Further, fenugreek contains alkaloids including fenugrecin and trigonelline that have blood glucose lowering activity. In one study the anti-diabetic effects of fenugreek seeds were investigated in humans by administering 10 grams of fenugreek seed soaked in hot water to patients that had been diagnosed with diabetes within the last 6 months. The subjects also followed medical, dietary and exercise advice that was prescribed by the American Diabetic Association. The results of the study showed that there was a significantly lower blood glucose level in the subjects that had consumed the fenugreek seed following the 5th month of the study, compared to controls that followed the same protocol but did not have the fenugreek. Therefore fenugreek may be an effective anti-diabetic treatment when used as part of a holistic approach to controlling blood glucose levels. 

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Ranade, M. and Mudgalkar, N. 2017. A simple dietary addition of fenugreek seed leads to the reduction in blood glucose levels: A parallel group, randomized single-blind trial. Journal of Research in Ayurveda. 38(1-2): 24

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Fenugreek as an Anti-Diabetic Supplement

Posted on October 3, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seed may have anti-diabetic effects in humans and animals. For example, in one study on human subjects, newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients who were without severe complications were given  25 g fenugreek seed powder in solution twice a day as a dietary supplement for one month. Another group was given the anti-diabetic drug metformin and a third group was the control group and received no treatment. The fenugreek supplement was able to significantly lower total cholesterol levels in the treatment group compared to the control group and the metformin group. In addition, the fenugreek was able to significantly lower the LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels of the treatment group compared to the control group. The ‘beneficial’ HDL cholesterol levels of the treatment group were increased compared to the control group. Therefore fenugreek appears to show beneficial effects at improving the metabolic dysfunction common in diabetic patients and in particular may significantly improve the lipoprotein profiles of diabetic subjects. 

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Geberemeskel, G. A., Debebe, Y. G. and Nguse, N. A. 2019. Antidiabetic effect of fenugreek seed powder solution (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) on hyperlipidemia in diabetic patients. Journal of diabetes research. Article ID 8507453

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Fenugreek for Weight Loss

Posted on October 2, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is a herb with a number of health effects in humans. Fenugreek belongs to the legume family of plants and like other legumes, fenugreek may have a number of weight loss properties. The fibre in fenugreek is one component of the plant that may have beneficial weight loss effects. The seeds of fenugreek are rich in fibre which is largely water soluble galactomannan fibre. This fibre is composed of a linear (1, 4) β-linked D-mannan backbone, with D-galactosyl residue bonded as single unit side chains by (1, 6) α-linkages. In one study subjects were fed 4 or 8 grams of fenugreek seed fibre and their hunger was recorded every 30 minutes for 3.5 hours. The 8 gram dose of fibre significantly increased satiety in the subjects and caused a trend towards a reduction in the amount of food eaten at an ad libitum lunch later in the day. This suggests that fenugreek seed fibre may help with fat loss when incorporated as part of a healthy diet. IIn this regard fenugreek fibre is similar to fibre from other legumes. 

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Mathern, J. R., Raatz, S. K., Thomas, W. and Slavin, J. L. 2009. Effect of fenugreek fiber on satiety, blood glucose and insulin response and energy intake in obese subjects. Phytotherapy Research. 23(11): 1543-1548

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Forskolin: Body Composition

Posted on October 1, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Forskolin is a compound present in the Coleus forskohlii plant. Forskolin is of interest nutritionally, because it might cause cellular changes to cyclic AMP levels, and this may change cellular metabolism to cause an increase in fatty acid oxidation. These effects have made forskolin of interest as a weight loss supplement. Because of its potential to influence body weight, forskolin supplements have been investigated in healthy overweight humans. In one study subjects received 250 mg of 10 % forskolin extract twice a day for 12 weeks. Forskolin was shown to significantly decrease body fat percentage and fat mass compared to the control group who received a placebo. Forskolin also resulted in an increase in body mass, suggesting that bone density had increased. The free serum testosterone levels of the subject also increased, and this may have explained the increase in bone mass as well as the slight but not significant increase in lean mass. Therefore forskolin extract may be useful as a weight loss supplement and may significantly improve body composition in overweight individuals. 

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Godard, M. P., Johnson, B. A. and Richmond, S. R. 2005. Body composition and hormonal adaptations associated with forskolin consumption in overweight and obese men. Obesity research. 13(8): 1335-1343

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Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum) and Blood Glucose

Posted on September 30, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum) is a herb that is thought to possess a number of beneficial health effects in humans and animals. Fenugreek contains an alkaloid trigonelline and an essential oil that is made up of a mixture of volatile and nonvolatile compounds. Whole extracts of fenugreek have been shown to have blood glucose lowering effects in animal models. For example, in one study researchers administered fenugreek extract to normal healthy rats as well as diabetic rats. The doses of the fenugreek extracts were 2 or 8 grams per kg of body weight, and the rats were supplemented with these extracts for 2 weeks. Compared to the control rats who received no fenugreek, the treatment rats experienced significant falls in resting levels of blood glucose with the effects becoming greater at higher doses and at the 2 week compared to 1 week time point. This suggests that fenugreek has significant blood glucose lowering effects in animals and supports the traditional role of fenugreek as an anti-diabetic agent. 

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Khosla, P., Gupta, D. D. and Nagpal, R. K. 1995. Effect of Trigonella foenum graecum (Fenugreek) on blood glucose in normal and diabetic rats. Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology. 39: 173-173

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