Probetix

Pinosundia ®

– This is an extract of the plant and not its dried leaves which makes it easier to measure more accurate doses. It is extracted from the Sutherlandia plant which is  indigenous to South Africa. Sutherlandia is known as the ‘cancer bush’ which has been used as a medicinal plant for ailments such as diabetes. It has also been used as a tonic for people recovering from serious illnesses.

Alfa-lipoic acid

– This is a powerful and versatile antioxidant used in the prevention of various diseases such as diabetes as it prevents cell damage caused by high free-radical levels. It also increases glutathione production, helping to dissolve toxic substances in the liver. It minimises damage to nerve endings (neuropathy) too.

Formula

Pinosundia®   90mg
Alpha Lipoic Acid 75mg

Dosage and directions for use:

Before taking this supplement, please ensure that the condition has been diagnosed by a healthcare practitioner.

Take 2 capsules in the morning, after breakfast.

Not recommended for children under 12 years of age.

Do not discontinue any prescribed medication without first discussing with your healthcare practitioner.

Pharmacological action:

Probetix contains Pinosundia ® from the aerial parts of the Sutherlandia frutescens plant and Alpha-Lipoic acid. Pinosundia ® consists of L-canavanine, pinnitol, GABA and asparagine as its main active constituents. It has been shown to normalise insulin levels and glucose uptake in peripheral tissues, suppress intestinal glucose uptake and increase the diabetic index to normal levels. Not much is known about the pharmacokinetics of this plant.

Alpha-lipoic acid (LA), also known as Thiotic acid, is a naturally occurring compound that is synthesised in small amounts by plants and animals. It is a potent biological anti-oxidant and a co-factor in vital energy-producing reactions in the body. Due to these activities it may help the treatment of diabetic neuropathies and assist in the prevention of glaucoma. Supplementing with LA may also partly restore diabetic nerve function after oral treatment. Evidence from a trial on patients with stage 1 and 2 open-angle glaucoma (OAG) indicates that alpha lipoic acid taken daily, significantly improves visual function. Absorption after oral ingestion is from the small intestine and distribution to the liver via a portal circulation and to various tissues in the body via the systemic circulation. It is metabolised to its reduced form, dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA), by mitochondrial lipoamide dehydrogenase. It readily crosses the blood-brain barrier. 30-40% of an oral dose of racemic LA is absorbed.

Peak plasma concentrations of the natural R-LA form is found to be 40-50% higher than S-LA form, suggesting R-LA is better absorbed than S-LA and is the more active form. Peak plasma concentration of LA is reached after one hour or less and declines rapidly.

Mode of action:

The precise mechanism by which Pinosundia® operates is not quite clear yet but it is thought to be due to a synergic working of the phytochemicals therein. There is now strong evidence that the interaction of these bio-active compounds is responsible for its remarkable properties. In a recent animal study using Pinosundia®, the blood sugar of diabetic rats was shown to stabilise to normal levels within a few days of being given the extract. There was also a significant increase in glucose uptake into muscle and adipose tissue and a significant decrease in intestinal glucose uptake with no weight gain noted.

It is thought that Alphalipoic’s action is due to its role in the oxidation of pyruvate and alpha-ketoglutarate in the mitochondria. Ultimately enhancing energy production and possibly its antioxidant activity may account for its possible benefit in diabetic polyneuropathy.  The Mayo Clinic recently reported on a study conducted with a Russian medical center to test LA’s ability to help specifically with diabetic neuropathy that LA seemed to change the metabolism of the nerve or blood supply to the nerve with noted relief in symptoms. Another study conducted at the Heinrich Heine University in Dusseldorf found that treatment with LA actually stimulated the regeneration of nerve fibres in diabetics in less than three weeks of treatments and patients experienced a significant reduction in pain and numbness associated with neuropathy.

Food supplements are not drugs and do not substitute any medical treatment

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