Addressing Metabolic Syndrome

Multi-functional nutritional ingredients may stop the progression of metabolic syndrome

A study out of Mukogawa Women’s University, Nishinomiya, Japan, examined the effect of banaba’s corosolic acid on metabolic risk factors including obesity, hyper tension, hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia in a rat model of metabolic syndrome.⁹⁷ Intervention with corosolic acid lowered blood pressure by 10 percent in eight weeks and dropped serum free fatty acids by 21 percent after only two weeks. Corosolic acid also decreased levels of several oxidative stress and inflammatory markers. And an unpublished clinical trial using a 1 percent corosolic acid extract from banaba (as GlucoTrim™, from OptiPure) involved type 2 diabetics receiving 16, 32 or 48 mg/d of the extract for 15 days at a time, with a 10-day washout period between doses. Compared to the control, GlucoTrim showed a drop in blood glucose levels across the dose range. A statistically significant reduction in blood glucose was observed at the 48 mg/d dose.

Several specialty compounds and combination formulas have the ability to act on various portions of metabolic syndrome. Standardized French maritime pine bark extract (as Pycnogenol®, from Natural Health Sciences), has a broad range of effects, often attributed to its antioxidant procyanidins and phenolic acids; it has anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive and anti-hyperglycemic activity, while protecting against lipid oxidation.¹⁰¹ Polish researchers recently reported Pycnogenol had anti-thrombotic effects in diabetic rats,¹⁰² while Italian researchers found administering Pycnogenol orally to type 2 diabetics improved symptoms of microangiopathy and capillary function.¹⁰³

Pycnogenol also works on blood glucose metabolism. A daily dosage of 50 mg of Pycnogenol lowered both fasting and postprandial blood glucose significantly in type 2 diabetics not on medication, compared to baseline; higher dosages (100 mg/d and 200 mg/d) were even more effective.¹⁰⁴ Further, Pycnogenol appeared to facilitate blood sugar uptake by previously insulinnon- receptive cells. The extract also has beneficial effects for type 2 diabetes who are on medication, according to a study in 77 such patients who took 100 mg/d of Pycnogenol for 12 weeks while on standard treatment. Supplementation significantly lowered plasma glucose levels as compared to placebo and improved endothelial function.¹⁰⁵

An extract of Phaseolus vulgaris, white kidney bean, appears to impact blood glucose and carbohydrate metabolism. Indian researchers reported administering the extract to diabetic rats significantly reduced elevated blood glucose, serum triglycerides and total cholesterol.¹⁰⁶ And a Spanish study found the alpha amylase inhibitor from P. vulgaris extract could reduce glycemia and food intake in normal and diabetic rats, normalize elevated blood glucose in diabetic rats.¹⁰⁷ In addition, a clinical trial using a patented P. vulgaris extract, Phase 2® (from Pharmachem Laboratories), in 60 overweight adults found providing 445 mg/d of Phase 2 for 30 days resulted in significantly greater reduction of body weight, BMI and fat mass.¹⁰⁸

Several other proprietar y ingredients may help manage metabolic syndrome. Citricoma™, from HP Ingredients, is a proprietary blend of polymethoxylated flavones (PMFs) and Eurycoma longifolia. Company research suggests the compound inhibits the 11(beta)-HSD1 enzymes, reducing systemic and local cortisol concentrations (liver and adipose tissue), promoting healthy blood sugar control and healthy weight loss. In a six-week placebo-controlled study in 50 moderately overweight men and women, those taking Citricoma while following a holistic program of nutritional diet, exercise and stress management lost 2.7 kg (compared to 0.78 kg for the placebo), and 2.4 kg of body fat loss (0.55 kg for the placebo).¹¹¹ Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were also lower in the Citricoma group.

PMFs, this time in combination with Phello dendron amurense, also appear in the patented ingredient Flavoxine from Next Pharmaceuticals. In a company-sponsored study conducted at the University of Yaounde I, Cameroon, 45 overweight subjects received 1,480 mg/d of Flavoxine for eight weeks in a double blind, placebo-controlled intervention. Treatment improved lipid levels, decreased blood pressure and significantly decreased fasting glucose levels. In addition, intervention aided in weight loss.

Another specialty compound is decaffeinated green coffee bean extract (available as Svetol®, from Berkem), which may work to help support weight management and glucose balance. A double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, published at the end of 2006 in Phytothérapie, showed 60 days of treatment with Svetol resulted in a mean reduction in weight of 4.97 +/-0.32 kg (5.7 percent), compared to a mean reduction of 2.45 +/-0.37 kg (2.9 percent) in the control group.¹¹² Intervention also significantly reduced BMI and significantly increased the muscle mass/fat mass ratio. Svetol also works to inhibit glucose absorption from the digestive tract, according to a new clinical trial.¹¹³ Svetol (400 mg/d) for 40 days significantly reduced the post-load glycemia after an oral glucose tolerance test without any change in the preload glycemia.

While metabolic syndrome incidence is on the rise, formulators and marketers of functional foods and dietary supplements have an ideal opportunity to provide multi-action products that can get to the core of the problem and enhance long-term health.

Editor's Note: References follow on next page.

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