Dr. Houston’s supplementation strategy varies from patient to patient, depending on what the micronutrient assays and lipid profiles show. But there are a few stand-bys that he uses with most if not all metabolic syndrome patients.

Green Tea Extract: EGCG is best known for its potential anti-cancer benefit. But a recent study at Vanderbilt showed that it can markedly increase glucose tolerance by 30%–50%. “I use this a lot. It is as good, if not better, than what you see with Metformin, Actose and Avandia,” said Dr. Houston. In a sense, it is not surprising that the green tea compound has both insulin-sensitizing and anti-cancer properties. Insulin resistance is correlated with inflammation, and both of are correlated with oncogenesis. And obesity is a well-documented risk factor for many kinds of cancer.

Fish Oils: “Everybody ought to be on them. They don’t have any adverse effects, and in practice, they don’t really interact with coumadin.” He recommends insulin-resistant patients take high doses of 3–4 grams combined DHA and EPA per day.

Lipoic Acid: “We use r-lipoic acid. It is approved in Germany as a drug for the treatment of diabetes and diabetic neuropathy. It is basically mainstream in Germany.”

Chromium: This mineral is essential for proper function of enzymes, and it plays a major role in insulin action. “I use chromium if someone shows clear deficiency, and I sometimes try it even if the levels test fairly normal but the patient is obese.”