Guggul Guggul
oleoresin (gugulipid) has been used in the Ayurvedic
(traditional Indian) system of medicine for centuries. It comes
from the myrrh tree, Commiphora
mukul and was approved in India in 1986 as a lipid
lowering drug. It can decrease bad cholesterol and raise good
cholesterol.
There are a few theories on how it may
do this: block the liver from making cholesterol, increase the amount
of cholesterol excreted through the GI track, increase the liver's
ability to take up cholesterol, or increase thyroid activity which
would cause these good cholesterol effects.
In rats,
guggul can cause the release of
thyroid hormone. Increasing this
hormone in humans should cause weight loss.
Although
there is information about its cholesterol effects, this supplement has not been
as thoroughly studied for weight loss. One study that only lasted 30
days
showed that adding guggul produced about a 5 lb weight loss compared to
diet alone. Another gave a 17.4-18 lb weight loss.
There
are some side effects
and certain people should avoid using it. Side effects
include: gastrointestinal upset, interference with blood clot
formation, and interactions
with some medicines. Because of its thyroid properties, it should not
be taken by people with thyroid disease or pregnant women.
It is important you
discuss any weight loss or exercise plan with your doctor. Only you and
your physician can decide what is best for you. Some people have
certain conditions that prevent them from doing all exercises, and goal
body weights may be different for different people. You need to discuss
all these things with your physician before starting any weight loss or
exercise program.
This
article was written by
John
Vickery, MD.
References Am
Fam Physician. 2004 Nov 1;70(9):1731-8. Lexi-Comp
database
accessed on 5/1/08. Prim Care Clin Office Pract.
2002 Jun;29(2)279-95. Int J Obes(Lond). 2005 Sep;29(9):1030-8

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