Gymnema
Gymnema/Nutrient Depletion:
GlucoseGlucose: Based on animal research and preliminary human data, ingestion of gymnema may cause hypoglycemia in diabetic patients and reductions over time in HbA1c levels (20; 21; 22; 24; 25; 26; 17; 1; 16; 19; 23). Hypoglycemic effects have been noted in patients without diabetes as well as in patients with diabetes (17). LipidsLipids: In a small human study, patients with type 2 diabetes taking gymnema in addition to oral hypoglycemic drugs experienced reductions in cholesterol, triglycerides, and free fatty acids, while subjects taking oral hypoglycemic agents alone did not (1). Serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol-lowering effects have been observed in animals (30, 31). The mechanism may by via a decrease in the synthesis or increase in the metabolism of cholesterol, or through decreased fat absorption (32).