Gymnema Sylvestre is an herb used in the Diabetic Formula of the CardioTrim health supplement line.

Gymnema sylvestre is a traditional Ayurvedic herb with a 3,000 year history of balancing elevated blood sugar levels. This woody, vine-like plant is known in India as the “destroyer of sugar.” The active ingredients, gymnemic acid and gurmarin, have similar molecular structures to glucose and are beneficial in many ways. Gurmarin has the ability to fill taste bud receptors and reduce the sweet taste of sugary foods, thus greatly reducing the craving for sweets. Gymnemic acid helps increase the production of insulin by stimulating the production of new insulin-producing cells, called beta-cells, in the pancreas. Gymnemic acid also facilitates insulin release from the beta-cells into the blood stream by increasing beta-cell membrane permeability. Gymnemic acid also inhibits the absorption of sugar molecules in the intestines during digestion, thus reducing increases in blood sugar levels. Finally, Gymnema has also been shown to significantly lower cholesterol in animal models.

Blood Glucose Regulation

The primary clinical application for Gymnema is as a blood sugar regulator. Gymnema has been the subject of considerable research since the 1930s, with promising results for Types 1 and 2 diabetes. In one controlled study, a standardized Gymnema extract was given to twenty-seven Type 1 diabetics at a dose of 400 mg daily for six to 30 months. Thirty-seven others received insulin therapy alone and were tracked for 10 to 12 months. In the Gymnema group, insulin requirements were decreased by about one-half and average blood glucose levels decreased from 232 mg/dL to 152 mg/dL. The control group showed no significant decreases in blood sugar levels or insulin requirement. In addition, after 6 to 8 months on Gymnema there was a marked improvement in long-term blood sugar status, as indicated by a statistically significant decrease in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c). In another study, twenty-two Type 2 diabetics were administered 400 mg Gymnema extract daily for 18 to 20 months in addition to their oral hypoglycemic medications. This group experienced significant decreases in average blood sugar and HbA1c levels, and an increase in pancreatic release of insulin. Medication dosages were decreased and five patients were able to discontinue their medications entirely.

Weight Control/Sugar Cravings

Gymnema helps promote weight control by its ability to reduce the cravings for sweets and control blood sugar levels. A peptide isolated from Gymnema, gurmarin, has been shown to block the sweet taste of glucose and sucrose in animal models. Gurmarin blocks the ability for individuals to taste sweet, as well as bitter flavors, such as quinine or sugar, but does not block sour, astringent or pungent flavors. The chemical structure of gurmarin allows it to temporarily bind to the sweet and bitter receptors on the tongue, thereby blocking the taste sensation and reducing sweet cravings. Animal models have also shown that gymnemic acids block the absorption of sugar from the intestine into the blood thereby effectively blocking sugar uptake and suppressing the elevation of blood glucose levels.

Cholesterol Control

Dr. Harry Preuss et al. showed a significant lowering of cholesterol with Gymnema sylvestre ingestion in hypertensive rats fed a high sucrose diet, whereas the control group (no G. sylvestre) showed a significant increase in cholesterol levels.

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