GB2304046A

GB2304046A - Diabetes therapy

Info

Publication number: GB2304046A
Application number: GB9516206A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kofi Abaka Jackson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-08-08
Filing date: 1995-08-08
Publication date: 1997-03-12
Anticipated expiration: 2015-08-08
Also published as: GB9516206D0; GB2304046B

Abstract

A method of treating diabetes consists in the use in combination of pharmacologically active products extractable from garlic with a material selected from the group of pharmacologically active product extractable from birch leaf, lecithin, or mixtures thereof; optionally in combination with sulphonylurea drugs and/or vitamin supplements.

Description

DIABETES THERAPY This invention concerns the use of combinations of ingredients for the control of and, possibly, the treatment of diabetes. The invention includes medicaments comprising such pharmaceutical ingredients in combined form.

Diabetes is a disease without known treatment but which can be controlled by various means - such as control of diet and/or prescription of drugs. Diabetes patients requiring oral therapy are often prescribed drugs called sulphonylureas which appear to work by stimulating production of insulin by the pancreas.

Sulphonylureas also appear to potentiate the action of insulin throughout the body.

A side effect of such drugs can be hypoglycaemia, a potentially dangerous drop in blood sugar caused by production of too much insulin. Although a number of known sulphonylureas are successfiil as far as the controlling of diabetes is concerned, they have serious side effects after prolonged use. It is possible for patients to develop a tolerance to particular sulphonylurea drugs necessitating change to other such drugs. Accordingly such drugs are generally only used in the treatment of maturity-onset diabetes for patients whose condition cannot be treated by diet alone.

Garlic (Allium Sanvum) is one of the oldest medicinal plants discovered by man and has been used for centuries for its antiseptic and protective qualities. It is traditionally applied to prevent senile vascular narrowing. Allium Sativum is also useful in maintaining normal levels of fat and cholesterol in the blood stream and possesses anti-arteriosclerotic properties which help in preventing geriatric complaints.

Birch leaves (Betulae Folium) is another important medicinal plant product in wide usage in many parts of the world. Its regular use rinses the urinary passage and kidney of bacteriological and inflammatory diseases. It has gained a very important historical recognition in the field of natural healthcare. It has not been indicated as useful against diabetes.

Lecithins are phosphatides and are obtainable from several sources.

Pills comprising mixed garlic and birch leaf extracts have been on the open market for many years as a natural health product for improving sense of well-being and eliminating the unpleasant feelings and experiences that are associated with old age.

Typical such pills, sold under the Trade Mark GOLDEN GARLIC, are produced in Germany and sold by Golden Tower Limited of Ghana.

Unexpectedly the inventor has found that a combination of garlic extract and a material selected from the group of birch leaf extracts, lecithin, or mixtures thereof, assists in the treatment of diabetes, especially in combination with sulphonylurea drugs and more preferably in combination with vitamin treatment. The garlic and birch leaf extracts appear to affect blood sugar levels, to ameliorate the side effects of sulphonylureas, and to actively reduce the amount of sulphonylureas that need to be taken.

Accordingly the present invention provides a method of treating diabetes comprising the use in combination of pharmacologically active products extractable from garlic with a material selected from the group of phalmacologically active product extractable from birch leaf, lecithin, or mixtures thereof. Preferably the method also comprises the use of sulphonylurea drugs. More preferably vitamin supplements are used as part of the method. The scope of the invention will be made evident by the accompanying claims with reference to the following description.

The composition of the known health pill GOLDEN GARLIC (mentioned above) is a combination of extracts of garlic and birch leaves with a harmless excipient and is generally sold as a natural health product. For this purpose, the recommended dosage is two pills twice daily. However, when a diabetic patient on sulphonylurea(s) takes, say, two pills thrice daily, and supports the regimen with intake of vitamins (e.g. B-Complex ), the known garlic/birch leaf pill helps the body of the patient to bring the blood sugar level and the associated complications down. Lecithin may act in replacement or in combination with the birch leaf extract.

A preferred method of use is to monitor the patient's sugar level so, as it comes down, the already ongoing regimen of sulphonylurea(s) may be accordingly tapered off, eventually to an insignificant dosage, or completely ceased. The garlic/birch leafllecithin pill is also progressively reduced to the dosage the patient may require to maintain the right sugar balance.

A preferred method is to provide a combined garlic/birch leaf(and/or lecithin)/sulphonylurea pill of about twice the dosage of a GOLDEN GARLICTM pill. Typically, it is sufficient to put the patient on a regimen of this alone. The dosage would be as prescribed by the physician according to the state of the patient.

However, a typical starting daily dosage would be one pill taken three times daily.

The total daily dosage would contain, for example, the equivalent of 271 .2mg of garlic extract 393.6mg of birch leaf extract with 5mg sulphonylurea. The addition of vitamin regimen is beneficial. The body sugar level is monitored. When the normal range for the sugar level is achieved, the dosage is progressively reduced to a sustenance level of say one pill a day or as may be recommended by the physician.

EXAMPLE 1 A patient on Daonil (glibenclamide), two tablets daily (on prescription) changed to a regimen of using a combined garlic/birch leaf pill with sulphonylurea (effective daily doses 271.2mg of garlic extract 393.6mg of birch leaf extract with 5mg sulphonylurea) and used vitamin B-Complex. When the normal range for the sugar level was achieved the regimen tapered to one third the dose daily.

EXAMPLE 2 A patient with forty-one years history of diabetes (diagnosed at 19, patient's age 60) had given up sulphonylureas but was on a controlled diet. Diabetes related water-oozing sores had started developing on parts of the legs. The administering of the same regimen as in Example 1 produced spectacular improvement within a fortnight, the sores ceasing to weep and beginning to heal.

An advantage of the regimen described is that the therapy is very tolerant to diet and that patients can stay on normal diet. It is always however advisable to avoid sugar- loaded food items and beverages.

Claims

1. A medicament for the treatment of diabetes comprising: a) pharmacologically active product extractable from garlic b) a material selected from the group of pharmacologically active product extractable from birch leaf, lecithin, or mixtures thereof; and, c) one or more sulphonylurea drugs.

2.. Use of pharmacologically active products extractable from garlic with a material selected from the group of pharmacologically active product extractable from birch leaf, lecithin, or mixtures thereof in the preparation of a medicament for diabetes therapy.

3. Use of pharmacologically active products extractable from garlic with a material selected from the group of pharmacologically active product extractable from birch leaf, lecithin, or mixtures thereof and one or more sulphonylurea drugs in the preparation of a medicament for diabetes therapy.

4. A method of treating diabetes comprising the use in combination of pharmacologically active products extractable from garlic with a material selected from the group of pharmacologically active product extractable from birch leaf, lecithin, or mixtures thereof.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 also comprising the use of one or more sulphonylurea drugs.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 also comprising the use of vitamin supplements.

7. A method as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 in which the blood sugar level of a patient is monitored and when it reaches the normal range the amount of medicament taken is reduced.