Blood Sugar Levels: Momordica Charantia - An Important Breakthrough In The Treatment Of Diabetes And Obesity

Many diabetics, including those suffering from Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, are dependent on medication to keep their blood sugar levels down. This is important as persistently high levels can cause kidney failure, loss of vision, damage to the nerves of the feet, skin ulcers, memory loss and heart problems.

There are a number of drugs that doctors can prescribe to lower blood sugar levels and avoid these problems. They work in a variety of ways, such as limiting the amount of sugar being absorbed by the bowel; increasing the production of the hormone insulin which helps cells assimilate sugar, and restricting the amount of new sugar molecules being formed in the liver.

The problem with these prescription-only drugs for diabetes is that they can cause dangerous side effects including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, liver problems and jaundice. For this reason, many scientists have shifted their attention away from synthetic drugs to investigate natural compounds instead.

One natural remedy that is proving to be an excellent alternative is Momordica charantia. It has been found to be just as effective as a prescription-only drug called glibenclamide at reducing blood sugar levels and without causing any adverse effects (J Ethnopharmacol 2003, 88(1): 107-111).

Momordica - also know as bitter melon, Karela or balsam pear - is a plant that grows in tropical locations such as Asia, East Africa, The Caribbean and South America. The extract from the unripe fruit of the plant - a rich source of vitamin C, vitamin A and iron - has long been used as a medicine by Ayurvedic (ancient Indian) practitioners to treat many conditions, including diabetes, viral infections and even cancer.

Momordica works in much the same way as insulin to reduce blood sugar levels
Dozens of studies have shown that Momordica is effective, both in terms of reducing blood sugar levels and preventing complications that can develop as a result of the disease (Fitotherapia 2003, 74(1-2):7-13). For example, an animal study performed at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences revealed that the fruit extract was able to reduce the risk of cataract - a well-known diabetic complication - by almost 100 per cent, following just four months of treatment (Phytother Res 2002 16(8):774-777).

Following a large review study, which assessed the effectiveness of various plant remedies for treating diabetes, scientists from the Division for Research and Education in Complementary and Integrative Medical Therapies at Harvard Medical School claimed that Momordica was one of the best herbal remedies for fighting the disease.

The scientists reviewed all of the available medical literature on plants and supplements for diabetes - in total these studies involved 4,565 diabetic patients. The final conclusion was that Momordica, alongside other plants like Gymnema sylvestre, which we've previously reported on in NHR, was extremely beneficial in terms of lowering blood sugar levels and preventing diabetic-related complications (Diabetes Care 2003, 26(4):1277-1294).

In another study, US scientists from the Natural Standard laboratory, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, reviewed the general actions of Momordica on blood sugar metabolism. They highlighted the fact that certain components of Momordica resemble the chemical structure of the hormone insulin, which gives a valuable insight into exactly how Momordica works. Like insulin it is able to stimulate the cells to utilise glucose more effectively, and also appears to be able to reduce the production of excess glucose from the liver (Am J Health Syst Pharm 2003, 60(4):356-359).

A natural way to speed up your metabolism and prevent cancer
Not only is Momordica proving highly effective for lowering blood sugar levels, but animal studies have found that it can help reduce body fat too. Chinese researchers working at the Department of Zoology, University of Hong Kong, have found that Momordica improves fat metabolism and can significantly reduce abdominal fat in diabetic animals that are also obese (J Nutr 2003, 133(4):1088-1093).

Again, this has important implications for diabetic patients who have a tendency to accumulate fat, particularly around the abdominal area, as a result of an inability to utilise fat efficiently.

Momordica is also proving promising in the treatment of cancer. In a study performed at the Lampang Regional Cancer Centre in Thailand, doctors examined the effects of Momordica on women with cancer of the cervix.

The three-month study involved 95 women in total, some of whom had cancer and others who were cancer-free and in good overall health. The women were randomly divided into two groups, one group was given Momordica extracts to take and the rest received treatment with placebo.

At the end of the study, the researchers found that there was an increase in the activity of anti-cancerous cells called Natural Killer cells - these cells are able to identify cancerous cells and destroy them (J Med Assoc Thai 2003, 86(1):61-68).

Further studies are now under way to evaluate Momordica's anti-cancer benefits further, and obviously NHR will keep you fully updated on the findings as they become available.

What to take for best results
The recommended dosage for Momordica is one 750mg capsule of standardised extract taken one to three times a day (or as otherwise directed on the product's label).

WARNING: Individuals with hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) should not take Momordica as it is likely to aggravate the problem. And because it alters blood sugar status so effectively, those with diabetes should only take it under the supervision of their GP who can keep a close eye on changes in blood sugar levels. Pregnant women should not take Momordica.