Genistein and insulin resistance in NAFLD
The liver contains some fat, but when extra fat from diet builds up, impairing some metabolic functions, the condition is called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In this study, 82 people with NAFLD took a placebo or
250 mg of genistein, per day.
After eight weeks, compared to placebo, those taking genistein saw significantly lower levels of circulating insulin, and less insulin resistance. Triglyceride levels decreased to 191.59 mg per deciliter of blood (mg/dL) from 219.27 at the start of the study, and signs of oxidative stress and inflammation also improved. Waist size compared to the circumference at the hip declined, and the genistein group also saw an average decrease of 1.4 percent in body fat.
Inositol, selenium in hypothyroidism
When the body does not produce enough thyroid hormone, metabolism slows down. Women, especially those between age 30 and 50, are more likely to develop hypothyroidism. The most common form is an autoimmune disorder known as Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism. In this study, 148 women and 19 men with an early, mild form of the disorder took 83 mcg of selenium, with or without 600 mg of inositol, per day.
After six months, those taking selenium with inositol showed improvements in measures of the condition—including more normal levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Those taking selenium alone also saw improvement, but not as great as those in the selenium/inositol group. Doctors said selenium with inositol restored normal thyroid function in those with subclinical—early, mild— Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism.
Reference: Clinical Nutrition Journal; 2018, Vol. 37, No. 4, 1210-15
Natural Insights for Well Being December 2018
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