Researchers from Oxford Brookes Centre for Nutrition and Health, UK, and ingredient supplier Phynova Group Limited conducted the double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, repeat-measure, crossover design trial to test the efficacy of the white mulberry extract at different doses with meals containing carbohydrates, proteins and fat.
Wouter Claerhout, chief marketing officer at Phynova explained: โIt is imperative that the team ensures Reducose is effective at the right dose, in order to protect customers and their brands, since consumers who use Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) can see the strong efficacy of Reducose immediately and from the first dose.โ
He added: โThis is the second time that Reducoseย has proven itself in a clinical study with real meal conditions. The Gheldof study by Nestlรฉโ also showed similar results with 250mg Reducoseย 5% in a meal that included rice, bread, curry sauce and chicken.โ
The study, funded by Phynova, also demonstrated the efficacy of Reducose does not appear to be overly impacted by the quantity of food eaten as the reduction in post-prandial glucose was of a similar scale as seen with smaller carbohydrate loads.
Spiking interest โ
As predicted by Phynovaโ, interest in blood sugar spikes has taken off in the last couple of years, with the proliferation of CGMs.
The firm has noted the uptick in enquiries in 2024 alone.
โThe pull for Reducose has increased dramatically in the last months. We just witnessed our busiest ever Vitafoods in Geneva with formulators from all markets eager to incorporate Reducose into their formulas.
โThe significance of blood sugar as foundational to health and wellbeing is increasingly being understood by consumers, in part thanks to books like โGlucose Revolutionโ by Jessie Inchauspรฉ, aka the GlucoseGoddess, who has more than 4million followers on Instagram.
โItโs a testimony to the science and efficacy of Reducose that Jessie is launching her own brand in June, called โAnti-Spike Formula โ works within minutesโโ, with Reducose inside.โ
The studyโ
A total of 37 healthy individuals (men and women aged 18-56) completed the study. Participants consumed capsules containing either 200 mg, 225 mg, 250 mg Reducoseย or placebo before a test meal consisting of 150 g white bread and egg mayo filler.
Capillary blood samples were collected at 15-min intervals in the first hour and at 30-min intervals over the second and third hours to determine glucose and plasma insulin levels.
The consumption of all three doses of Reducoseย resulted in significantly lower blood glucose and plasma insulin levels compared to placebo.
All three doses (200 mg, 225 mg, 250 mg) of Reducoseย significantly lowered glucose iAUC 120 by 30%, 33% and 32%, respectively, compared with placebo.
All three doses significantly lowered the plasma insulin iAUC 120 by 31% (pโย = 0.024), 34% (pโย = 0.004) and 38% (pโย < 0.001), respectively.
Decoy effectโ
The extract is said to acts like a decoy, distractingย alpha-glucosidaseย (digestive enzymes) to prevent them digesting carbohydrates in the small intestine and allowing large amounts to pass through unaltered, thus preventing a sharp spike in blood glucose and insulin levels.
Undigested carbohydrates pass into the large intestine and become food for the gut microbiome and protect against the build-up of pathogenic bacteria.
There are no apparent side-effects as the residue is absorbed through the gut wall into the blood and excreted unaltered through the kidneys and urine.
Building scienceโ
Phynova has been awarded aย grant by Innovate UKโย to study the effects of Reducose when incorporated into diets. Together with researchers from Oxford Brookes University, the team will track the effects of Reducose on participantsโ blood sugar levels through CGMs as well as long-term effects on weight, body composition, metabolic health, and the microbiome. The recruitment for this study will start in the coming weeks.ย
The team will also continue to invest in Reducose science for broader metabolic health, for which healthy blood sugar is a foundational bedrock, said Claerhout.
ย
Source: Nutrientsโ
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16111670โโ
โUnderstanding the Impact of Different Doses of Reducoseยฎโย Mulberry Leaf Extract on Blood Glucose and Insulin Responses after Eating a Complex Meal: Results from a Double-Blind, Randomised, Crossover Trialโ
Authors: Thondre, P.S.; Butler, I.; Tammam, J.; Achebe, I.; Young, E.; Lane, M.; Gallagher, A.ย