Diosmin Helps Improve Diabetic Vascular Conditions
New research has shown improvement in microcirculatory disorders experienced by diabetic patients that were treated with Daflon 500 mg—a fraction flavonoid, 90% of which is comprised of the supplement Diosmin. Derived from Sweet Orange, Diosmin is the predominant component of Berg Imports LLC’s (Ann Arbor, MI) ingredient DiosVein, used for over 30 years as an anti-inflammatory and vascular-protecting agent.
A study conducted in France by a research team lead by A. Behar, MD, treated 13 diabetic outpatients who had been suffering from a microcirculatory condition anywhere from one to 19 years and who had abnormal albumin retention. Each study participant took two tablets daily of Daflon 500 mg for the duration of one month. Any treatments that were already in place prior to participation were continued during the study. A test was performed before and at the end of the study to measure albumin retention in the urine. Twelve of the 13 patients experienced normalization in the levels of albumin. In 10 out of 13 patients, the test was carried out a third time several months after the Daflon 500 mg treatment was withdrawn. For patients who had albumin normalization during treatment, results were again abnormal.
In a different study, also conducted by Dr. Behar, a placebo-controlled trial lasting 30 to 42 days included two equal groups of 20 diabetic patients—one group treated with the flavonoid fraction and one being a placebo group. At the end of treatment, albumin retention significantly decreased in the group treated with the flavonoid fraction in contrast with the placebo group. In 65% of the flavonoid patients, albumin levels normalized, compared to only 25% of patients in the placebo group. This study, along with others testing the flavonoid fraction Daflon 500 mg, suggest that this treatment can improve and even normalize capillary filtration of albumin in diabetic patients.

CardioTrim Provides Weight Loss Benefits and More
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study has shown that Cissus quadrangularis, a key ingredient in Soy Labs’ CardioTrim product line, produces significant weight loss, lowers blood sugar and reduces total and LDL (bad) cholesterol.
The six-week study produced a mean weight loss for the Cissus quadrangularis (Cissus CQR-300) group of 10.6-lbs. compared with a gain of 2.6-lbs. for the control group. The Cissus CQR-300 group also experienced a reduction in BMI (4%), fasting blood glucose (15%), total cholesterol (18.%), LDL cholesterol (29%), triglycerides (22%), and plasma malondialdehyde/fat metabolites (46%). The Cissus CQR-300 group experienced an increase of 21% in HDL (good) cholesterol, 53% in 5-hydroxytryptamine/serotonin (5-HT) and a 24% increase in serum creatinine, an indicator of muscle building. The placebo group experienced none of these benefits except a slight decrease in triglycerides and an increase in 5-HT.
The study included 68 obese patients (84% women), aged 19 to 50 years old, and ranging in weight from 155.6- to 313-lbs.; BMIs ranged from 27 to 48.65 kg/m2. The test group received 300 milQ-absorb Supplementation May Improve Cardiac
Function in Heart Failure Patients
The results of a clinical trial investigating the effects of Jarrow Formulas’ (Los Angeles, CA) Q-absorb, an enhanced-absorption CoQ10 formula, on chronic heart failure patients was recently published in the European Heart Journal. Italian scientists from the Lancisi Heart Institute and the University of Ancona (Institute of Biochemistry) measured the effects of 300 mg per day (100 mg T.I.D.) Q-absorb on the cardiovascular functional capacity of 23 heart patients. Measurements included endothelial-dependent vasodilatation as measured by ultrasound BART (brachial artery reactivity test), plasma ubiquinone, and other important cardiovascular biochemical parameters.
In this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover clinical trial, the study results proved the efficacy of Q-absorb, as demonstrated by improving functional capacity (peak volume of oxygen consumed VO2); improvement in endothelial-dependent vasodilatation; and tripling of plasma coenzyme Q 10 levels.

PectaSol Modified Citrus Pectin Works Well as Oral Chelator
EcoNugenics, Inc., Santa Rosa, CA, has revealed the findings of a clinical study on Modified Citrus Pectin (MCP) and its effectiveness in removing toxic heavy metals in the human body. The National Institute on Health (NIH)-funded study was undertaken to assess PectaSol MCP as a safe and effective oral chelator of lead, mercury, arsenic and other toxic metals from the human body. The study indicated that oral administration of MCP resulted in significant increases in the urinary excretion of arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead.
MCP increases the elimination of toxic elements from the body by binding to the metals in the bloodstream and eliminating them through the urine. A non-toxic chelation agent, such as MCP, could be used safely for prolonged periods and may be an important chelation treatment alternative for children exposed to lead on an ongoing basis, as well as people for which conventional chelators are contraindicated.
The researchers reported their clinical findings in the international journal Phytotherapy Research, October 2006. For MCP, this is the first report of a specific pectin structure that effectively binds to heavy metals in the human body resulting in the systemic chelation of heavy metals from the human body. As MCP has a strong affinity to lead, the findings present a safe and effective alternative to traditional chelation treatments that often have harsh side effects.

Garli-Eze Delivers Similar Effects Associated with Fresh Garlic
A study presented at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Nutrition indicates that a new proprietary garlic product developed by Nutra Products, Inc. (Reno, NV), Garli-Eze, delivers allicin, the key bioactive ingredient of garlic, to the body in amounts equal to that of fresh high allicin garlic macerate and yields no unsocial responses due to chewing fresh garlic.
Allicin is a very short-lived bioactive in garlic and thus requires sophisticated methods to measure its appearance. The study presented used a method developed by Dr. Larry Lawson, a world-renowned garlic researcher. This method employs a highly sensitive method of analyzing the breath after ingestion of garlic and unequivocally can determine if garlic was both delivered to the