Are You Mineral Deficient?
Minerals are crucial elements of the biological processes that govern
blood sugar metabolism in the body. Individuals with blood sugar
imbalances and diabetes often exhibit mineral deficiencies and have a
weakened ability to regulate glucose levels. Supplementing with high
quality, bioavailable minerals improves the body’s ability to modulate
glucose levels and can be extremely therapeutic for individuals with
deficiencies.
To reduce inflammation and oxidative damage, key antioxidants and
minerals are key to fighting these inflammatory and destructive reactions.
Therefore, individuals with mineral deficiencies should supplement their
diet in order to restore optimal vitamin and mineral levels, thus
controlling oxidative damage and inflammation. Minerals are especially
important for reducing the occurrence of comorbid conditions common in
diabetic individuals such as pancreatic insufficiency, renal disease,
neuropathy, and retinopathy.
Minerals are also required for proper insulin function. Insulin is the
hormone that brings blood glucose into cells and therefore lowers blood
glucose levels. Of primary importance to glucose metabolism,
inflammation, free radical scavenging, and immune health are the
minerals zinc, magnesium, chromium, manganese, vanandium, and
copper.
Zinc
Both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes negatively affect zinc
homeostasis. These conditions can cause zinc
malabsorption. Hyperglycemia may also lead to increased excretion of
zinc by the kidneys1. Zinc is important because it improves insulin’s
ability to bind to receptors on cell membranes and transport glucose into
the cells to be used as energy. Thus zinc helps to keep blood sugars out
of the bloodstream where they can lead to atherosclerosis and other
heart/blood vessel conditions.
Zinc is also needed for the beta cells in the pancreas to even produce
insulin, further adding to the imbalances in the body. Moreover, zinc is
an integral component of antioxidant enzymes and a cofactor for
enzymatic processes in glucose and sugar metabolism. High
concentrations of glucose levels combined with low zinc levels results in
“an increase of free radicals known to cause neuropathy, nephropathy,
and retinopathy” seen in diabetic individuals.1
Magensium
Magnesium is another key mineral deficiency linked with diabetes and
blood sugar imbalances. It is linked with vascular complications and
osteoporosis. Researchers have also found that insulin deficiency (Type
1 Diabetes) or insulin resistance (Type 2) may result in “an impaired
ability of insulin to increase intracellular magnesium”1.
Interestingly, magnesium deficiency also leads to insulin
resistance. Thus these two aspects of diabetes and blood sugar
imbalances result in a vicious cycle of insulin resistance and decreased
intracellular magnesium. Supplementing with magnesium will correct
the deficiency and improve other illnesses related to magnesium
deficiencies such as cardiovascular disease, neurological complications,
or any of the other 300 processes that rely on optimal magnesium levels
to function properly.
Chromium
Chromium increases insulin’s ability to bind to cells, increases insulin
receptor numbers on cells, and improves insulin’s ability to detect
glucose molecules in the blood. Often diabetic individuals are deficient
in chromium. Restoring levels in these individuals, especially those with
steroid-induced diabetes, improves their blood sugar levels enough for
them to decrease or completely go off of their medications, effectively
reversing their illness1.
Manganese
Impaired glucose metabolism has been linked with manganese
deficiency, which can lead to pancreatic insufficiencies. There is low
insulin production, expedited deterioration of insulin, and a weakened
ability of insulin to function correctly. Manganese is also a component of
the free radical scavenger Superoxide Disumutase (SOD) that protects
cells, most notably pancreatic beta-cells that produce
insulin2. Supplementing with manganese restores pancreatic function.
Vanadium
Vanadium is believed to enhance the effects of insulin and can also be
included in a mineral supplement to support balanced glucose
metabolism. Vanadium may be therapeutic for Type 2 diabetics that have
sufficient levels of insulin, as vanadium only enhances insulin function
rather than mimic it completely.
Copper
Copper levels are often decreased in individuals with long-term blood
sugar imbalances. This can weaken the body’s immune system and
depress the ability to fight against harmful free radicals. Copper is a
component of a SOD antioxidant enzyme and a deficiency will surely
weaken the body’s defenses.
Supplementation
When choosing mineral supplements, you need to be careful of the
ingredients and quality of the supplement. Most minerals are naturally
poorly absorbed and the common, cheap formulations contain mineral
forms that are not bioavailable cause digestive problems and nausea, are
poorly absorbed, and not well tolerated.
Conclusions
While all of these minerals are critical for healthy function of blood sugar
metabolic processes, remember that mineral levels are only one aspect of
blood sugar regulation. If you have blood sugar imbalances, pre-diabetes,
diabetes, insulin resistance, hypertension, overweight/obesity, or are
suffering from any other chronic health condition, it is critical to consume
a low sugar diet in order to reduce inflammation and improve overall
balanced cellular metabolism.
You also need to have healthy liver and kidney function in order to
detoxify toxins, most notably the caffeine, sugar (especially fructose),
alcohol, food additives, and pesticides. Your kidneys also regulate
mineral levels in the body, excreting or reabsorbing the nutrients as
needed. But kidney function is often depressed in individuals with blood
sugar imbalances and diabetes, resulting in an increased risk of multiple
mineral deficiencies.
Restoring nutrient levels and enhancing detoxification performance will
help individuals successfully improve their health, lose weight, find
increased energy, improve blood sugar levels, reduce oxidative damage,
strengthen the immune system, and improve quality of life.
An organic whole foods diet, therapeutic vitamin and mineral support,
physical activity, and stress management are all nourishing lifestyle
factors that can heal your body and strengthen your well being.
References
1. (2002). Mineral considerations in diabetes mellitus. Albion Research
Notes: a compilation of vital research updates on human nutrition, 11(2),
1-4.
2. Keen, C Zidenber-Cherr, S. (1996). Present knowledge in nutrition.
Manganese. (7), 334-341.