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Borage Oil Prevents and Reverses Nerve Damage
HELP FOR DIABETICS…
Clinical trials show that
supplementation with this GLA-containing oil is a useful
adjunct to conventional therapy
By Artur Klimaszewski, MD
Source: Bioriginal Publishing
Date Published: October 1999
Today, more than 18 million North Americans have diabetes.1
The American Diabetes Association reports that between
60 and 70 percent of those patients (approximately 10
to 13 million people) have some form of diabetic neuropathy
- nerve damage caused by a prolonged imbalance in blood
glucose levels.
Symptoms of diabetic neuropathy include numbness and
sometimes pain in the hands, feet, or legs. Nerve damage
can also affect internal organs such as the digestive
tract, heart, and sexual organs, leading to symptoms
such as diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, dizziness,
and bladder infection. Neuropathy can also lead to impotence,
which afflicts approximately 9% of all diabetic men,
and 50-60% of those over 50. In severe forms, neuropathy
can lead to lower limb amputations. In fact, diabetes
is the most frequent cause of non-traumatic lower limb
amputations. Each year, more than 56,000 amputations
are performed among people with diabetes.2
The cost of diabetic neuropathy is enormous not only
in terms of direct medical costs such as in-patient
care, but also in terms of personal suffering and debilitation,
decreased productivity due to absence from work, decreased
earning potential due to disabilities, and increased
accidents. Conventional medicine offers no satisfactory
treatment for diabetic neuropathy. Physicians generally
recommend close monitoring of blood glucose levels over
time as the best way to prevent the onset of neuropathy.
In practice, however, it is extremely difficult to keep
the glucose level in an acceptable range at all times.
Even the most conscientious diabetics therefore experience
considerable fluctuation of blood glucose levels.
However, in the last 20 years, research with both animals
and humans has demonstrated that supplementation with
a natural source of Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) is an
important factor contributing to prevention and improvement
of neuropathy.
GLA is a naturally occurring fatty acid found in "good"
oils such as Borage (also known as Starflower), Evening
Primrose, and Black Currant. A healthy body may obtain
GLA by converting dietary Linoleic Acid (LA) found in
many processed foods, margarine, and vegetable oils.
The body then uses GLA for building nerve structure.
The metabolites of GLA are required for healthy nerve
function. In diabetes, characterized by fluctuations
of glucose levels, the initial conversion of dietary
Linoleic Acid to GLA is often impaired. The result is
a lower level of GLA and its metabolites in the tissue.
The key is to restore GLA to normal levels through dietary
supplementation.
The effects of GLA on diabetic neuropathy
To date, there have been three placebo-controlled human
studies on the use of GLA in diabetic patients. The
studies consistently concluded that GLA has a beneficial
effect on the course of diabetic neuropathy, as measured
by peripheral nerve function, nerve conduction velocity,
nerve capillary blood flow, and other factors.
Human trials began in 1986, when a group of researchers
conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled study with
22 patients.3 The treatment group received
360 mg of GLA per day for 6 months. All tested variables
improved in the treatment group and worsened in the
placebo group.
These results sparked further scientific interest
in the subject. Two subsequent multicenter studies,
including more than 400 patients, obtained consistently
positive results. The first included 111 patients in
7 centers4, while the second included 293
patients in 10 centers5. The patients received
480 mg of GLA per day for one year. The researchers
measured 16 parameters in all, including nerve conduction
strength and speed, hot and cold thresholds, sensation,
reflexes, and muscle strength.
After a full year of treatment, all 16 parameters showed
favorable improvement as compared to the placebo group.
Laboratory research indicates that recovery of patients
may be even more complete when GLA is used in conjunction
with anti-oxidants.6
GLA will not eliminate the need to monitor glucose
levels - but it is, without question, a helpful adjunct
to conventional treatment of diabetic neuropathy.
Getting the GLA you need
The best source of GLA is Borage (or Starflower) Oil,
which contains up to 23% GLA. Evening Primrose Oil (8-10%
GLA) and Black Currant Oil (15-17% GLA) are other sources
of GLA. Because of the higher concentration of GLA in
Borage, a patient may consume fewer capsules overall
to achieve the required dosage. This allows the patient
to consume the least amount of supplemental calories
and fat possible, which is of the utmost importance
in diabetes. It also makes Borage Oil the most economical
source of GLA.
Clinical research indicates that a dosage of 500 mg
GLA per day is effective - that's only 2 grams of Borage
Oil daily. Studies have shown that Borage Oil is safe
and non-toxic, even in large amounts.
Artur Klimaszewski is an MD with
Bioriginal Food & Science Corp., Saskatoon, Canada.
He is devoted to research in the field of Essential
Fatty Acids.
References:
- Figures compiled from the American Diabetes Association
and the Canadian Diabetes Association, 1998.
- American Diabetes Association, 1999.
- Jamal GA, et al. Gamma Linolenic acid in diabetic
neuropathy. Lancet, Vol. 10. p. 1098 (1986).
- The Gamma Linolenic Acid Multicenter Trial Group.
Treatment of Diabetic Neuropathy with Gamma Linolenic
Acid, Diabetes Care, Vol. 16, No. 1, pp 8-15 (1993).
- Unpublished research by the Gamma Linolenic Acid
Multicenter Trial Group. Reported by Horrobin, David.
Essential Fatty Acids in the Management of Impaired
Nerve Function in Diabetes, Diabetes, Vol. 46, Suppl.
2, pp S90-93 (1997).
- Cameron, Norman and Mary Cotter. Metabolic and Vascular
Factors in the Pathogenesis of Diabetic Neuropathy,
Diabetes, Vol. 46, Suppl. 2, pp S31-S37 (1997).
October 1999
© Copyright Bioriginal Food & Science Corp. May be reprinted
in whole or in part with written permission from the
corporation. Address: 102 Melville Street, Saskatoon,
Saskatchewan, CANADA S7J 0R1. Phone: (306) 975-1166
Fax: (306) 242-3829 Website: www.bioriginal.com
Disclaimer:
This information is provided in good faith as educational
material. It is the customer's responsibility to check
the suitability of the material under FDA (DSHEA), HPB,
and/or any other rules regarding the use of this material.
Bioriginal is not responsible for compliance to various
rules regarding the use of this literature as promotional
material.
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