Is Guggul Good For Diabetes?

November 2, 2021

How Does Guggul Interact With Your Body?

Guggul contains acids such as commipheric and guggulipid, which activate hormones and receptors in our body. These receptors are PPARγ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma) that regulate the development, functioning, and maturation of fatty cells in our body.

Obesity is a common problem among men and women. It occurs when the large fat cells in the body abnormally reproduce immature fat cells. Subsequently, PPARγ may become dysfunctional or irregular. It can cause hormone imbalance, which eventually leads to the development of metabolic and serf-perpetuating syndromes, such as diabetes and obesity. These keep the abnormal fat cells’ secretion dysfunction in the loop.

The fatty cells are essential for creating fatty tissues and adipose in our body. In simple words, the fat cells that guggul effects are responsible for releasing hormones for the metabolism of cholesterol and glucose. Hence, the biological domain of guggul extends to the regulation of fat cells present in our body. Plus, this is the significant effect of guggul on a diabetic patient’s health.

Prognosis of Guggul as an Anti-Diabetic Natural Supplement

While some may recommend using guggul as a holistic treatment option for conditions like diabetes and obesity, there is a lack of research to prove its effectiveness.

As you may find out that most of the studies are animal-based, there aren’t many human trials to conclude that guggul can actually lower the blood sugar levels to regulate diabetic pain and symptoms. Nonetheless, the substance itself can have slight effects on diabetic symptoms.

In a controlled study, guggul appeared ineffective in lowering the blood sugar levels of several type-2 diabetic patients. While guggul may help with diabetes and the associated conditions like obesity, there’s a need for concrete scientific data and research analysis.

Diabetic Research and Guggul Use Testing

In an old experimental study of a type-2 diabetic mouse model, guggul was effective in critically increasing insulin sensitivity. It helped stabilize the abnormal blood sugar levels in the subject (i.e., diabetic mouse model).

There was also the identification of new compounds in Guggul, i.e., commipheric acids. These acids lowered the cholesterol and blood glucose levels while adversely impacting the subject’s body weight or food intake.

Potential Anti-Diabetic Effects of Guggul

Cholesterol and Guggul

Regardless of its use in Indian Ayurvedic medicine for years, studies are yet to confirm any noticeable effect of guggul on diabetic conditions in humans.

A 2009 review proposes the cholesterol-lowering ability of guggul. In the study, out of the 43 adults, those who took nearly 2,160 milligrams of Guggul capsules experienced a drop in total cholesterol levels.

A 2017 clinical study represented how Guggul set off lipid abnormalities in the subject mice. Overall, it also affected the liver function intensively while also causing the hardening of the arteries in the mice. Thus, the study showed there was acceleration to death in the subjects (i.e., mice) that were prone to ischemic heart syndrome/disease.

How Can You Take Guggul for Diabetes (Dosage)?

Guggul is widely available in pharmacies in many different forms. Some of them may include raw extracts, capsules, powders, lotions, etc. Moreover, it is a valuable health supplement and food product.

However, your doctor will consider some factors when recommending the dosage of guggul with ongoing medications. First and foremost, the dosage recommendations may vary from brand to brand and their products. Thus, consulting your primary healthcare provider may help you determine the right dose for you.

Normally, when it comes to oral supplements, the dosages may range from 6.25 milligrams to 132 milligrams per day. Keep in mind that the dosage amounts depend on the quantity and concentration of the active Guggulsterone (a plat steroid) present in the Guggul supplement or extract you choose.

Generally, guggul is available in the form of herbal and natural blends that accompany other extracts for increased benefits (sometimes absorption). Conclusively, bear in mind that you have to stick with the recommended dose mentioned at the back of the supplement’s packaging or your healthcare provider’s suggestion.

Possible Side Effects of Guggul Intake

While there may be many potential benefits, guggul has possible side effects as well. In this case, you should learn how and why these side effects might interfere with your body. Hence, you will be able to avoid these effects and make a better medication plan with your healthcare provider’s help.

Bleeding disorders are a normal side effect of guggul that may occur, especially when you are also taking other blood-thinning medications. It can cause the blood to lose thickness, which can make blood clotting difficult inside the body. Hence, bleeding from affected parts of the body may occur.

Moreover, when a woman is pregnant, she is prone to developing many health issues that may worsen if you take any supplements/herbs without consultation. Thus, it is wise to assume that guggul may not be safe to consume during pregnancy, considering its potential side effects. On top of that, it is important to note that breastfeeding mothers should not use guggul as there is no research to determine if it’s safe to consume.

As guggul stimulates the uterus, it can lead to irregular or abnormal menstrual cycles in women. Similarly, as discussed above, hormone-sensitive conditions and disorders require careful medication planning. Therefore, guggul poses a serious side-effect risk as it may act in the form of estrogen. It can be harmful if you have conditions like breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, etc.

With the bleeding and blood-thinning disorder that may occur due to guggul intake, there is a probability that post and pre-surgery procedures (if any) may become troubling. It can become difficult to stop the bleeding. For that reason, it is advisable to stop the intake of guggul at least 2 or 3 weeks before any type of surgery.

Besides that, avoid using guggul as it may carry the risk of interfering with the overactive thyroid medication in the body.

Precautions – What Else Should You Know About Guggul?

Before you begin consuming guggul, consult your primary healthcare provider or your diabetes doctor. Also, consider learning a few more precautions, as guggul is capable of expediting the metabolism rate of medicine in your liver.

For instance, guggul can reduce the effectiveness of medications that your liver enzymes metabolize upon consumption. Further, it may interact chemically with any hormonal medicines in your body. As it affects the estrogen receptors in your body, guggul can also affect hormonal medications like birth control pills, breast cancer medications, etc.

Some studies also show the effect of taking Guggul and blood pressure medicines together. It can reduce the absorption rate of any blood pressure medicines in your body, which can lead to an imbalance in preventative care against diabetes.

Besides, there may still be unexplored and unidentified internal drug interactions in the human body due to guggul. For your care, if you are taking these types of medications, then you should consult with your primary healthcare provider to learn the potential benefits or setbacks of consuming guggul.

Overdosing and Side Effects

Well, you should be aware due to a lack of human trials and researches, there is still little knowledge regarding the side effects of an overdose. In simple words, there isn’t solid evidence or knowledge about what amount of guggul is an overdose. Therefore, use guggul to help with your diabetes condition only after consulting your primary care doctor.

In addition, there isn’t sufficient information regarding what may be the outcome of an overdose due to heavy Guggul intake. Since the effects are unknown, you should consider consuming a small amount of OTC guggul dosages.

Consume only as the authentic packaging directs and consult your primary healthcare provider in case of any unusual symptoms. Moreover, there are lesser-known side effects of large Guggul doses in humans.

Conclusion

Generally, experts advise that you should not purchase raw and imported guggul resin. As you don’t know about the manufacturing process of the product, it is better not to take any risks. You don’t know whether it includes contaminants like pathogens, toxins, pesticides, etc., or not.

However, in order to formulate your own extract, you can choose guggul powder instead of raw resin. Moreover, you can try to select Guggul powder brands that are USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) and Organic certified for an additional level of safety.

Continue learning more about diabetes news, tips, updates, here at Diabetic Sock Club.

Reference Links:

Guggul

Guggul: Uses, Benefits & Side Effects

GUGGUL

Studies Suggest Guggul Lowers Blood Sugar

Ayurveda Medicines for Diabetes Type 2

3 Health Benefits of Guggul + Side Effects

Can Guggul Lower Your Cholesterol?