Admin
Vitamin Retailer reached out to Cheryl Myers, Chief of Scientific Affairs and Education for Green Bay, Wisconsin-based EuroPharma and to Jay Levy, Director of Sales for Mission Viejo, California-based Wakunaga of America, for their insights about the blood-glucose and metabolic support products and ingredients, and here’s what they had to say:
VR: What are your most popular products in this category?
Myers: By far, our most popular blood sugar support supplement is Sucontral D. Sucontral D features Hintonia latiflora, a botanical that grows in the Sonoran Desert. For the past 70 years, hintonia has been used to treat and high blood sugar levels, insulin resistance, and other aspects of type 2 diabetes, as evidenced in a great deal of German research.
This research has shown that hintonia is so effective that, in some cases, patients with type 2 diabetes could reduce or eliminate their need for medications.
One clinical study of 177 individuals with either type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes evaluated Sucontral D, which contains hintonia extract combined with synergistic nutrients, including vitamins B1, B6, B12, folic acid, chromium, zinc, and vitamins C and E for eight months. The study had four arms. All had previously incorporated dietary changes. One group was diet change only, one group was diet change and oral diabetes medication, one group was diet change and insulin, and the last group was diet change, oral diabetes medication, and insulin. Therefore, all the participants had already been treated for their blood sugar issues, but researchers wanted to see if adding this botanical could provide even more benefits.
The results were impressive: the participants’ A1C levels improved by an average of 10.4 percent and fasting and postprandial glucose readings improved by an average of 23.3 percent and 24.9 percent, respectively.
It is important to mention that Sucontral D was shown in this study to work with conventional treatment, too, without any serious interactions. Throughout the duration of the study, individuals taking anti-diabetic prescription drugs stayed on their medication, adding the hintonia and nutrient combination to their existing regimen. After eight months, of the patients using antidiabetic drugs at the beginning of the study, 35 reduced their medication and 10 participants stopped using medication entirely because it was no longer necessary.
It is very useful to note that none of the patients taking Sucontral D saw their blood sugar levels drop too low, either.
One of our other most popular supplements, and one that works extremely well recommended with Sucontral D, is Healthy Feet & Nerves.
Healthy Feet & Nerves includes clinically studied BOS-10 boswellia to stop the pain and inflammation associated with neuropathy, along with bioavailable B vitamins that require no conversion by the liver (a major plus, especially for older patients), alpha-lipoic acid, glycine chelated chromium, a fat-soluble form of thiamin (benfotiamine), and other nutrients, including alpha lipoic acid that collectively address blood sugar levels and nerve health.
The BOS-10 boswellia in this formula is standardized to provide at least 10 percent acetyl-11-keto-B-boswellic acid (AKBA), one of the botanical’s key inflammation-fighting compounds, and less than five percent of beta-boswellic acid, which interferes with the anti-inflammatory activity of AKBA (and what you’ll often find in unstandardized extracts).
Additionally, our Berberine and Berberine MetX Extra Strength have proven to be extremely popular with retailers and their customers.
Our standard Berberine features a dose of 500 mg of the compound (from Berberis aristata, or Indian Barberry) per capsule. But because berberine can be difficult to absorb, Berberine MetX Extra Strength combines berberine with GammaSorb (gamma cyclodextrin), which has been shown to increase the absorption of certain hard to absorb (fat soluble) dietary ingredients, in some cases by as much as eight times.
Berberine is highly regarded for blood sugar support and for its overall metabolic benefits. In a clinical trial, berberine lowered fasting and postprandial glucose right from the very beginning of the study through its entire three months. It also lowered A1C levels from 8.1 percent to 7.3 percent, reduced fasting plasma insulin by 28 percent, and insulin resistance by 44 percent. The results were similar to the group treated with metformin, a commonly used drug for type 2 diabetes but one that can cause unwanted side effects, including nausea, diarrhea, and loss of appetite.
VR: For manufacturers of botanical-centric formulas in this category, briefly talk about the science behind your top one or two products.
Levy: Aged Garlic Extract (AGE): Best known for its cardiovascular benefits, aged garlic extract (AGE) has also been found to benefit people with type 2 diabetes. This unique form of supplemental garlic is made from 100 percent organically-grown garlic that is aged for up to 20 months using a proprietary aging process that amplifies its beneficial health properties while eliminating its pungent odor. Taken daily, studies show that AGE can improve the uptake of glucose and help reduce diabetic complications.
In one 2019 study that appeared in Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, AGE lowered the risk of insulin resistance by reducing both blood glucose levels and insulin while improving glucose tolerance. And in a randomized double-blind, cross-over study in the journal Mediators of Inflammation, AGE improved adiponectin levels in people with chronically high blood sugar. Adiponectin is a protein hormone produced and secreted by fat cells. It regulates the metabolism of both lipids and glucose and influences the body’s response to insulin. Low blood levels increase the risk for type 2 diabetes. The researchers noted that, among the subjects taking AGE, adiponectin also tamed inflammation and increased cellular glucose uptake.
AGE is also a powerful antioxidant that reduces oxidative stress, thanks to a sulfur-containing compound called S-allylcysteine (SAC). During one 2018 study in Scientific Reports, SAC lowered blood sugar levels while raising plasma insulin. Another study found that the anti-diabetic and antioxidant effects of SAC were comparable to the hypoglycemic drug glycalazide.
AGE may benefit those at risk of diabetes in yet another way. Chronically high blood sugar levels increase glycation, a process in which sugar bonds with proteins to form advanced glycation end-products. This can set the stage for diabetic complications. Yet, according to research reported in Scientific Reports, AGE inhibits the formation of these harmful advanced glycation end-products.
Bitter Melon. This unique fruit contains several substances that encourage the body to use carbohydrates in the way nature intended. This helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Research suggests that bitter melon works just as well or is more effective than some prescription diabetes drugs. Studies show that bitter melon improves the ability of cells to be sensitive—rather than resistant—to insulin. Animal and human research also shows that bitter melon works somewhat like insulin, enhancing the delivery of blood sugar to cells. Plus, compounds in the fruit activate a protein that regulates glucose metabolism in much the same way exercise does. In a 2023 clinical trial that was published in Food Science and Biotechnology, bitter melon showed glucose-lowering effects through the suppression of glucagon levels in people with prediabetes.
Chromium Picolinate. This trace mineral, which is bound to niacin for enhanced absorption, is necessary for the efficient metabolism of carbohydrates and fats, and also for stable blood sugar levels. In addition, chromium helps cells respond as they should to insulin. A 2007 meta-analysis of 41 clinical trials found that, among type 2 diabetics, chromium picolinate reduced fasting glucose levels up to 15.3 percent and fasting insulin levels up to 29.8 percent. In another eight-week study, chromium picolinate helped to control appetite. The women who participated in the study reported less hunger and fewer fatty food cravings than those taking a placebo.
Niacin. This important B vitamin not only enhances the absorption of chromium, small doses have been shown to slightly improve glucose control while also benefiting lipid levels. One 2015 study found that supplementing with niacin for eight weeks improved the secretion of adiponectin and fostered modest weight loss in obese subjects. It also improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity.
Salacia. Traditionally used in ayurvedic medicine for obesity and diabetes, salacia contains compounds shown to stabilize blood sugar, even after a high-carbohydrate meal. These compounds work in the small intestine by inhibiting the enzymes used to digest some types of sugars. As a result, some of the sugar or starch eaten in a meal is eliminated as waste rather than being absorbed into the bloodstream. Studies published in the Journal of Diabetes Research, Cureus, and other journals have found that the upswing in blood-sugar levels after a carbohydrate-rich meal was significantly lower in those taking salacia. In one randomized, placebo-controlled study of 39 healthy adults conducted by researchers at Ohio State University, those taking salacia saw a decrease in their insulin and blood glucose levels by up to 29 and 23 percent respectively.
Vitamin Retailer reached out to Cheryl Myers, Chief of Scientific Affairs and Education for Green Bay, Wisconsin-based EuroPharma and to Jay Levy, Director of Sales for Mission Viejo, California-based Wakunaga of America, for their insights about the blood-glucose and metabolic support products and ingredients, and here’s what they had to say:
VR: What are your most popular products in this category?
Myers: By far, our most popular blood sugar support supplement is Sucontral D. Sucontral D features Hintonia latiflora, a botanical that grows in the Sonoran Desert. For the past 70 years, hintonia has been used to treat and high blood sugar levels, insulin resistance, and other aspects of type 2 diabetes, as evidenced in a great deal of German research.
This research has shown that hintonia is so effective that, in some cases, patients with type 2 diabetes could reduce or eliminate their need for medications.
One clinical study of 177 individuals with either type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes evaluated Sucontral D, which contains hintonia extract combined with synergistic nutrients, including vitamins B1, B6, B12, folic acid, chromium, zinc, and vitamins C and E for eight months. The study had four arms. All had previously incorporated dietary changes. One group was diet change only, one group was diet change and oral diabetes medication, one group was diet change and insulin, and the last group was diet change, oral diabetes medication, and insulin. Therefore, all the participants had already been treated for their blood sugar issues, but researchers wanted to see if adding this botanical could provide even more benefits.
The results were impressive: the participants’ A1C levels improved by an average of 10.4 percent and fasting and postprandial glucose readings improved by an average of 23.3 percent and 24.9 percent, respectively.
It is important to mention that Sucontral D was shown in this study to work with conventional treatment, too, without any serious interactions. Throughout the duration of the study, individuals taking anti-diabetic prescription drugs stayed on their medication, adding the hintonia and nutrient combination to their existing regimen. After eight months, of the patients using antidiabetic drugs at the beginning of the study, 35 reduced their medication and 10 participants stopped using medication entirely because it was no longer necessary.
It is very useful to note that none of the patients taking Sucontral D saw their blood sugar levels drop too low, either.
One of our other most popular supplements, and one that works extremely well recommended with Sucontral D, is Healthy Feet & Nerves.
Healthy Feet & Nerves includes clinically studied BOS-10 boswellia to stop the pain and inflammation associated with neuropathy, along with bioavailable B vitamins that require no conversion by the liver (a major plus, especially for older patients), alpha-lipoic acid, glycine chelated chromium, a fat-soluble form of thiamin (benfotiamine), and other nutrients, including alpha lipoic acid that collectively address blood sugar levels and nerve health.
The BOS-10 boswellia in this formula is standardized to provide at least 10 percent acetyl-11-keto-B-boswellic acid (AKBA), one of the botanical’s key inflammation-fighting compounds, and less than five percent of beta-boswellic acid, which interferes with the anti-inflammatory activity of AKBA (and what you’ll often find in unstandardized extracts).
Additionally, our Berberine and Berberine MetX Extra Strength have proven to be extremely popular with retailers and their customers.
Our standard Berberine features a dose of 500 mg of the compound (from Berberis aristata, or Indian Barberry) per capsule. But because berberine can be difficult to absorb, Berberine MetX Extra Strength combines berberine with GammaSorb (gamma cyclodextrin), which has been shown to increase the absorption of certain hard to absorb (fat soluble) dietary ingredients, in some cases by as much as eight times.
Berberine is highly regarded for blood sugar support and for its overall metabolic benefits. In a clinical trial, berberine lowered fasting and postprandial glucose right from the very beginning of the study through its entire three months. It also lowered A1C levels from 8.1 percent to 7.3 percent, reduced fasting plasma insulin by 28 percent, and insulin resistance by 44 percent. The results were similar to the group treated with metformin, a commonly used drug for type 2 diabetes but one that can cause unwanted side effects, including nausea, diarrhea, and loss of appetite.
VR: For manufacturers of botanical-centric formulas in this category, briefly talk about the science behind your top one or two products.
Levy: Aged Garlic Extract (AGE): Best known for its cardiovascular benefits, aged garlic extract (AGE) has also been found to benefit people with type 2 diabetes. This unique form of supplemental garlic is made from 100 percent organically-grown garlic that is aged for up to 20 months using a proprietary aging process that amplifies its beneficial health properties while eliminating its pungent odor. Taken daily, studies show that AGE can improve the uptake of glucose and help reduce diabetic complications.
In one 2019 study that appeared in Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, AGE lowered the risk of insulin resistance by reducing both blood glucose levels and insulin while improving glucose tolerance. And in a randomized double-blind, cross-over study in the journal Mediators of Inflammation, AGE improved adiponectin levels in people with chronically high blood sugar. Adiponectin is a protein hormone produced and secreted by fat cells. It regulates the metabolism of both lipids and glucose and influences the body’s response to insulin. Low blood levels increase the risk for type 2 diabetes. The researchers noted that, among the subjects taking AGE, adiponectin also tamed inflammation and increased cellular glucose uptake.
AGE is also a powerful antioxidant that reduces oxidative stress, thanks to a sulfur-containing compound called S-allylcysteine (SAC). During one 2018 study in Scientific Reports, SAC lowered blood sugar levels while raising plasma insulin. Another study found that the anti-diabetic and antioxidant effects of SAC were comparable to the hypoglycemic drug glycalazide.
AGE may benefit those at risk of diabetes in yet another way. Chronically high blood sugar levels increase glycation, a process in which sugar bonds with proteins to form advanced glycation end-products. This can set the stage for diabetic complications. Yet, according to research reported in Scientific Reports, AGE inhibits the formation of these harmful advanced glycation end-products.
Bitter Melon. This unique fruit contains several substances that encourage the body to use carbohydrates in the way nature intended. This helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Research suggests that bitter melon works just as well or is more effective than some prescription diabetes drugs. Studies show that bitter melon improves the ability of cells to be sensitive—rather than resistant—to insulin. Animal and human research also shows that bitter melon works somewhat like insulin, enhancing the delivery of blood sugar to cells. Plus, compounds in the fruit activate a protein that regulates glucose metabolism in much the same way exercise does. In a 2023 clinical trial that was published in Food Science and Biotechnology, bitter melon showed glucose-lowering effects through the suppression of glucagon levels in people with prediabetes.
Chromium Picolinate. This trace mineral, which is bound to niacin for enhanced absorption, is necessary for the efficient metabolism of carbohydrates and fats, and also for stable blood sugar levels. In addition, chromium helps cells respond as they should to insulin. A 2007 meta-analysis of 41 clinical trials found that, among type 2 diabetics, chromium picolinate reduced fasting glucose levels up to 15.3 percent and fasting insulin levels up to 29.8 percent. In another eight-week study, chromium picolinate helped to control appetite. The women who participated in the study reported less hunger and fewer fatty food cravings than those taking a placebo.
Niacin. This important B vitamin not only enhances the absorption of chromium, small doses have been shown to slightly improve glucose control while also benefiting lipid levels. One 2015 study found that supplementing with niacin for eight weeks improved the secretion of adiponectin and fostered modest weight loss in obese subjects. It also improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity.
Salacia. Traditionally used in ayurvedic medicine for obesity and diabetes, salacia contains compounds shown to stabilize blood sugar, even after a high-carbohydrate meal. These compounds work in the small intestine by inhibiting the enzymes used to digest some types of sugars. As a result, some of the sugar or starch eaten in a meal is eliminated as waste rather than being absorbed into the bloodstream. Studies published in the Journal of Diabetes Research, Cureus, and other journals have found that the upswing in blood-sugar levels after a carbohydrate-rich meal was significantly lower in those taking salacia. In one randomized, placebo-controlled study of 39 healthy adults conducted by researchers at Ohio State University, those taking salacia saw a decrease in their insulin and blood glucose levels by up to 29 and 23 percent respectively.
