In the U.S., the amount of people that are considered to be “metabolically healthy,” is quite low. According to a study published in February 2019 in the journal Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders, a person is considered to have metabolic syndrome when they have too high or too low levels of three of the five risk factors: increased blood pressure (more than 130/85 mmHg), high blood sugar levels, excess fat around the waist, high triglyceride levels, and low levels of HDL (“good” cholesterol). In fact, the researchers found that approximately only 12 percent (one in eight) of adults in the U.S. have perfect levels of all risk factors, without having to take any medication.
These factors have pushed metabolic health into the forefront, as consumers are beginning to understand that “being healthy” is not only about staying in their “healthy weight” range anymore. “This market is fueled by alarming health indicators showing that 34 percent of adult population is prediabetic and 30 to 40 percent of adults (even lean ones) have fatty liver, a condition predisposing them to insulin resistance,” noted Jocelyn Bérubé, executive vice-president, scientific & regulatory affairs for the Canada-based InnoVactiv. “Consumers understand that these conditions may affect them even when they try to stay fit and have an optimal body weight. We’re seeing a growing awareness and people are thus seeking support from natural products supported by sound scientific demonstrations of efficacy and safety.”
Annie Eng, CEO of Florida-based HP Ingredients agreed. “Consumers are gaining awareness that metabolic disorders can wreak havoc if unaddressed as they age,” she said. “Metabolic dysfunction is more than just gaining weight—it can set the stage for diabetes type II, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.”
Clearing Up Confusion
While consumers are beginning to understand what metabolic syndrome is, because there are so many factors, they may not yet have grasped how to address it. “Consumers are often confused about how to manage metabolic syndrome (MetS) because it is a cluster of conditions that include elevated blood pressure, elevated LDL, low HDL, excess belly fat and high blood sugar,” Eng noted. “A consumer just told by his/her physician that if MetS is present it may be confronted with taking several medications, each with side effects. It can be overwhelming physically and mentally. Ideally, one would also supplement with an ingredient or product that safely addresses more than one MetS factor.
According to Brian Appell, marketing manager for OmniActive Health Technologies in New Jersey, 35 percent of the U.S. population is predisposed to metabolic health issues of which a considerable number of consumers (more than seven million) are not even aware of their condition. “And the problem is only aggravated by the food we consume. For example,” Appell reported, “70 percent packaged food contains hidden or added sugar;1 the average daily consumption of sugar is more than 80 gm, which is twice the recommended level of 24-40 gm;2,3 and a simple breakfast of 6 oz. low fat yogurt, medium bagel with 1 teaspoon of cheese and 8 oz. fresh orange juice packs 46 grams of sugar.
“Sugar in food—both hidden or added—is one of the key concerns for consumers regarding metabolic health. Rightly so, considering that poor blood sugar management may lead to a plethora of metabolic issues,” noted Appell. “Our focus is to provide natural, research-based solutions that target health benefits at their core. We combine our natural branded ingredients, our technology and our science to deliver solutions for our customers in an effort to benefit their consumers. Our focus is to provide research-based solutions that target the problem at its core, through versatile application options and ease of consumption to increase long-term compliance.”
Ingredients
Longstanding ingredients for metabolic health include gymnema, berberine, cinnamon, chromium, green coffee bean and salacia. According to Appell, many of the metabolic health ingredients come from ayurveda. Salacia, for example, a plant native to India and Sri Lanka, has been consumed by indigenous people for thousands of years to support blood sugar and metabolic health.
While developing metabolic health products, manufacturers and suppliers need to think about today’s consumer. They are savvy and want products that are clean, safe and have research available that back up product claims. These shoppers are unwilling to compromise on quality and will do their research to find what meets their criteria.
“Safety and efficacy should be at the core of the decision-making process of any manufacturer looking to develop metabolic health products,” said Bérubé. “Ingredients having a long history of safe use or that are GRAS (generally recognized as safe) should be on top of the list because of their demonstrated safety. Published significant human clinical trials should also be considered. Were they conducted on a diseased population? Are they showing benefits in healthy subjects as well? Are the ingredients meeting the highest quality criteria required by today’s consumers? These are some of the many questions that need to be answered by manufacturers before moving forward with an ingredient.”
OmniActive’s MetaVive is a salacia extract, which has been clinically shown to improve glucose metabolism and reduce blood sugar spikes after a meal. We have also invested in conducting multiple clinical trials to prove efficacy at a low dose.4,5
“There is a trend toward solutions targeting proactive users to reduce the impact of hidden and added sugar in food,” said Appell. “MetaVive provides a solution that has been clinically shown to support metabolic health, allowing consumers to worry less about what they are consuming.”
HP Ingredients’ Bergamonte contains bioactive compounds of extract of the juice and albedo of Citrus bergamia Risso, standardized to >38 percent polyphenolic flavanoids consisting of naringin, neohesperidin, neoeriocitrin, 1 percent melitidin and 2 percent brutieridin. Bergamonte is produced using patented extraction technology through collaborative works of various universities and research institutions in Italy. According to Eng, these flavonoids are clinically proven to help maintain healthy cholesterol levels, healthy blood glucose level, increase HDL-cholesterol, and promote healthy weight management.
HP Ingredients recently launched a new and improved version of Bergamonte (BPE-C). “This has been tested clinically,” Eng said. “Researchers found the new Bergamonte to be able to retain its powerful ability to regulate cholesterol and blood glucose levels (as it still has the same flavonoid profile of naringin, neohesperidin, neoeriocitrin, melitidin and brutelidin), and the study also shows it has a significant favorable impact on body weight and metabolic syndrome.
“The study, which is being prepared for journal publication, has shown favorable impact on hormones that influence metabolic syndrome, specifically, a strong increase in leptin (12.30 percent with 650 mg BPE-C and 21.36 percent with 1,300 mg); decrease in ghrelin (6.89 percent, 650 mg, and 14.90 percent with 1,300 mg), and an increase in adiponectin (18.65 percent with 650 mg), and 21.76 percent with 1,300 mg).”
InnoVactiv’s most successful approach to metabolic health has been with the ingredient InSea2. “This ingredient works through a safe and effective way, inside the digestive tract, by slowing down amylase and glucosidase enzymes responsible for converting dietary carbohydrates into glucose,” explained Bérubé. “Single use clinical trials in healthy subjects show that InSea2 reduces the normal post-meal rise in blood glucose and insulin, so that the body reacts in a healthier manner after each meal. InSea2 is really a superior option to all other natural extracts claiming to have activity on amylase and/or glucosidase enzymes and holds several certifications including organic, non-GMO (genetically modified organism) and GRAS status.
“Recently, a six-month study was completed with InSea2, showing it can help support long-term glycemic health in challenged individuals. This new study recruited 65 subjects with impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance. Glycemic and inflammation parameters were followed over six months of continuous use of the product,” Bérubé continued. “Treated subjects saw significant improvements in glycated hemoglobin, fasting glucose and HOMA index compared to the placebo, and also saw a significant reduction in systemic inflammation. This study was published recently in Phytotherapy Research and is available to product manufacturers interested in metabolic health products.”
In 2004, Dr. Charles Brenner first discovered nicotinamide riboside (NR), a form of vitamin B3. Brenner found that NR acts as a precursor to NAD (nicotine adenine dinucleotide), an essential co-enzyme utilized by the body’s cells to generate the energy required for daily activities such as eating, drinking, sleeping and breathing.
According to Frank Jaksch Jr., executive chairman of the board and co-founder of the California-based ChromaDex Corporation, NAD levels can also become depleted by metabolic stresses such as overeating and drinking, and physical inactivity. When NAD levels are low, our cells don’t function at their best. “We know, thanks to credible research, that NR increases NAD to support many of the metabolic processes involved in cellular health and have seen fascinating preclinical studies in the areas of cardiovascular health, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s,” he explained. “While further research is needed to see if benefits translate to humans, we understand mechanistically why NAD and NR may prove to be beneficial in these areas.
“Niagen, the key ingredient in our flagship product, TRU NIAGEN, is shown to significantly increase NAD levels by supporting healthy aging and promoting mitochondrial health and cellular energy production, which can be an important tool for health optimization during aging,” he added.
While it is an unfortunate fact that a number of Americans have to deal with their metabolic health issues, the good news is that many are taking proactive steps to so something about it. “In recent years, as the consumer trend suggests, there is an increase in proactive health solutions,” Appell noted. “We expect this trend to continue strong with more consumers becoming aware of metabolic issues and taking charge of their health.” Therefore, the future of the metabolic health category looks promising.
“I believe the market for metabolic health supplements is a relatively new one, as it was scattered into distinct markets in the past,” concluded Bérubé. “Health indications like blood glucose, blood lipids, liver health and heart health can all be seen as falling into the broader category of metabolic health.” NIE
References:
1 Maria Aguilar, MD1; Taft Bhuket, MD2; Sharon Torres, PA2; et al, JAMA. 2015;313(19):1973-1974. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.4260; https://media.jamanetwork.com/news-item/study-finds-high-prevalence-of-metabolic-syndrome-in-u-s/.
2 Avena, N., Rada, P., & Hoebel, B. (2008). Neuroscience Behavior Review, 52(1), 20-39. Retrieved from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17617461.
3 Shapiro, A., Mu, W., Roncal, C., Cheng, K.-Y., Johnson, R.J., & Scarpace, P.J. (2008). American Journal of Physiology. Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology , 295(5), R1370–1375. doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00195.2008).
4 Jeykodi S, Deshpande J, Juturu V. Salacia Extract Improves Postprandial Glucose and Insulin Response: A Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled, Crossover Study in Healthy Volunteers. J Diabetes Res. 2016 Oct 10;2016. (BIG Study).
5 Hao L, et al., Appetite and Gut Hormones Response to a Putative α-Glucosidase Inhibitor, Salacia Chinensis, in Overweight/Obese Adults: A Double Blind Randomized Controlled Trial, Nutrients. 2017 Aug 12;9(8). pii: E869. doi: 10.3390/nu9080869 (CARBS Study).
For More Information:
ChromaDex Corporation, www.chromadex.com
HP Ingredients, http://hpingredients.com
InnoVactiv, www.innovactiv.com
OmniActive Health Technologies, http://omniactives.com
