Reducose: Expanding the science from metabolic health to energy, weight and sleep

Reducose, an extract of mulberry leaves, works by blocking enzymes such as alpha-glucosidase that break down complex carbohydrates in our diet to individual glucose molecules for absorption. This allows much of the food eaten to pass through the top half of the digestive system without digestion, reducing the amount of food converted into blood glucose and decreasing insulin response ​(the hormone which pushes glucose calories into our storage tissues).

Speaking with NutraIngredients at the recent SupplySide West show in Las Vegas, Dr. Barbara Davis, Phynova’s North American head of science and regulatory affairs, explained that the company has been exploring the longer-term effects of controlled blood sugar levels.

“If we're keeping our cells having an even amount of glucose, what could that mean? From a physical perspective, it means feeling less tired, and more energy,” she said, and this could also exert cognitive and sleep benefits.

“By consuming the same amount of glucose, but not having all that glucose get in, then that's potentially a weight management tool.”

Dr. Davis added that, by reducing the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, more of these complex carbs are sent along the gastrointestinal tract, which could impact the microbiome in the large bowel.

“We're looking at what parts of the microbiome are being affected,” she said. “We know we have data that shows that the microbiome is actually consuming the carbohydrates that we're providing by using Reducose. We're just trying to figure out, OK, is there a certain class of microbes that are being beneficial so then, so that's the physical part of it.” 

Metabolic health ​

A 2019 paper by scientists at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill​ reported that only about 12% of Americans are achieving optimal metabolic health, which highlights a huge market opportunity for scientifically substantiated ingredients.

The metabolic benefits of Reducose have been reported in numerous clinical trials, said Dr. Davis, with data showing that the ingredient may reduce blood glucose levels after meals by up to 40% and may also decrease insulin levels by up to 40% after a meal.

Loick Fennaux, Phynova’s North American VP of business development, said that the widespread availability of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) has significantly improved the awareness of metabolic health among consumers.

“I usually say my mom understands that metabolic health not only impacts your long-term benefits like cardiovascular or diabetes and kidney failures but also seeing that having a healthy metabolism—with the direct feedback of the CGM—matters for cognition, matters for a better sleep, matters for having lasting energy, not having that crash,” he said.

Fennaux said that there’s a lot of noise around blood sugar control from people like Andrew Huberman and French “Glucose Goddess” Jessie Inchauspe, but what it all comes down to is “healthy metabolism”.

In terms of solutions, on one end there are dietary modifications, which are challenging to maintain, he said, and on the other end are blood glucose medications like Ozempic, but some consumers would view that as “too extreme”.

“Filling that gap in between becomes this very great opportunity for a lot of the brands that are working with Reducose,” he said.