Diabetes prevention: Exploring the latest natural solutions and innovations

30 Nov 2023 --- As the prevalence of type 2 diabetes continues to rise globally, so do efforts to find effective and natural solutions. Nutrition Insight gathers industry insights by speaking to Valio, Ingredients by Nature, Nutrartis and PharmaLinea. The experts discuss dairy’s impact on diabetes risk, herbal alternatives and scientifically proven supplements.

Valio’s nutrition research manager, Dr. Anu Turpeinen, and the company’s customer development manager, Emma Laivisto, tell us: “Many products for diabetics are very clinical. Dining should be a pleasure, so we think there is room on the market for new kinds of food solutions suitable for dietetics. We have also taken this challenge forward at Valio by offering healthy product applications to the food industry.”

Gonzalo Vega, chief business officer at Nutrartis, argues that none of the diabetes treatments currently on the market in the “classes of medications given by injection with incretin mimetics and insulin” are entirely “free of side and adverse effects.”

“Six main classes of pharmacologic treatments are used for controlling blood glucose levels and two classes of injections. On the other hand, there are many herbs traditionally known to have hypoglycemic or anti-diabetic effects. Many of these herbal plants come from the rich cultural heritage of Chinese and Indian traditional medicines,” he asserts.

According to the American Diabetes Association, it’s anticipated that 6.5% of the global population will be prediabetic by 2045.Need for natural solutions 
Ingredients by Nature president Rob Brewster emphasizes the need to develop natural solutions by pointing out: "According to the American Diabetes Association, it’s anticipated that 6.5% of the global population will be prediabetic by 2045. Currently, one in three adults in the US are prediabetic.” 

Matevž Ambrožič, marketing and PR director at PharmaLinea, highlights the benefits of lifestyle changes and natural supplements. “There is a lot of potential in nutrition counseling and therapy, physical activity and lower use of tobacco products.”

“In the last year or two, we have seen a serious uptick in the number of branded ingredients targeted at blood glucose management and a growing number of studies behind them,” they observe. 

Dairy may facilitate blood glucose management 
Valio’s Turpeinen and Laivisto point out that products for the prevention of diabetes are focused on regulating blood glucose levels. 

“On the market, you can find powders, drinks and supplements for this purpose. The glycemic index of products plays a major role in products aimed at dietetics. This means how quickly different carbohydrates — fast and slow — are absorbed from our intestines into the blood, that is, how much they raise our blood sugar.”

They add that: “Epidemiological studies have shown that dairy consumption is associated with decreased type 2 diabetes risk, and there are several plausible biological mechanisms through which milk products may play a role in reducing risk.”

“Milk products help in weight management and reduce the risk of developing metabolic syndrome, which is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Calcium, magnesium and vitamin D (in fortified dairy products) may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes through their role in modulating insulin resistance and inflammation.” 

Dr. Anu Turpeinen, Valio nutrition research manager (Image credit: Valio).Turpeinen and Laivisto further underscore that  bioactive milk peptides derived from casein and whey proteins have been shown to have antihypertensive effects. Hypertension is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. 

Moreover, the experts outline that milk protein, especially whey protein, has the potential to promote insulin sensitivity and improve glucose tolerance, in addition to helping with weight control. Meanwhile, fermented dairy products have beneficial effects on gut microbiota and further on glucose tolerance and inflammation.

“Last but not least, the glycemic index of unsweetened dairy products is low, between 30 and 40. Dairy products can thus be included in the diet of diabetics as a source of valuable nutrients,” explain Turpeinen and Laivisto. 

They point out that as each individual responds differently to food, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to combat diabetes. “Personalized treatments and precision nutrition will probably be involved in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes in the future.”

Herbal solutions 
Nutrartis’s Vega outlines that some natural ingredients behave as insulin, such as the fruits, seeds and callus of Momordica charantia (bitter melon), ginseng, onion and aloe vera.

“These plant extracts have many bioactive compounds, like terpenoids, flavonoids and phenols. It is remarkable that many of these extracts have terpene-derived compounds, like diverse types of saponins that are similar to phytosterols. Scientific knowledge has advanced to categorize these bio-actives according to their mechanism of action.” 

“Others have been recognized for their pancreatic beta cell restoration activity. For example, Pterocarpus marsupium, belonging to the Fabaceae family, is used in Ayurveda as Rasayana for the management of various metabolic disorders, including hyperglycemia. Tinospora cordifolia and Tinospora crispa and a type of vine known as Gymnema sylvestre (from the Apocynaceae family),” he explains.  

 Vega details examples of plants that support the reduction of the absorption of glucose from the gastrointestinal tract, such as Cyamposis tertragonoloba — commonly known as cluster bean or guar — rich in many flavonoid and polyphenolic compounds. He also highlights Ocimum sanctum, a small tree, commonly known as sacred basil or holy basil.  

Some natural ingredients behave as insulin, such as the fruits, seeds and callus of bitter melon, ginseng, onion and aloe vera.The compounds he points out as having the potential to inhibit alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase activities include Costus pictus, also known as an insulin plant in Southern India. 

“Phaseolus vulgaris — commonly known as kidney bean — which is a food item of mass consumption in Asia, and Euphorbia hirta, a common herb found worldwide, have been used as a traditional medicine in the treatment of diabetes for a long time. The remarkable feature is that among its terpenoid components are plant sterols, including beta-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol.”

Lifestyle changes empowered by supplements 
Ingredients by Nature’s Brewster notes that the most effective, natural solution to the growing public health concern around type 2 diabetes is prevention, which he says can be promoted with the proper nutritional support. 

 “For prediabetes, many people understand that moderate exercise, diet and supplementation can support a healthy lifestyle and healthy weight. Some popular dietary supplements to support healthy blood glucose levels include chromium, berberine and cinnamon.”

Ingredients by Nature’s Eriomin is a patented blend primarily composed of eriocitrin. “Eriocitrin has been clinically shown to support healthy blood glucose function, generate potent antioxidant activity and help manage inflammation within the healthy range,” he explains. 

Brewster states that Eriomin can be used  to control blood glucose levels. “This plant-based extract offers consumers a way to reverse prediabetes by addressing the cyclical interaction of blood glucose levels with insulin sensitivity, inflammation and oxidative stress.”

“Another opportunity, which can also be a challenge, is to educate consumers about the natural products shown to boost levels of Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1). GLP-1’s ability to promote insulin production and remove glucose from the bloodstream makes it an important hormone in helping manage healthy blood glucose levels.”

He asserts that a multitude of scientific discoveries by Ingredients By Nature has shown that Eriomin can boost GLP-1 levels naturally and reduce hyperglycemia after only 12 weeks of intervention.

Eriocitrin, a chromium, berberine, cinnamon and citrus blend has been clinically shown to support healthy blood glucose function.Natural blood glucose control 
PharmaLinea’s Ambrožič argues that the nutraceutical industry can jump in and contribute by providing efficient, clinically supported supplements that act in a preventive manner and help prevent the progression of prediabetes to diabetes or help support the nutritional needs of people with diabetes.

“PharmaLinea currently offers Your Prediabetiq Capsules, a clinically substantiated solution for the support of balanced blood glucose levels with an immediate, measurable effect. The product is synergistically designed to improve glycemic response through two complementary mechanisms.”

The first highlighted mechanism is the reduction of post-meal total blood glucose levels, as well as peaks and crashes. According to Ambrožič, this offers a positive effect by balancing the blood glucose by decreasing extremes.

The second mechanism is said to improve insulin efficacy and decrease insulin resistance in the long term. 

“Your Prediabetiq capsules are a highly marketable solution for a growing population of diabetics, prediabetics and consumers addressing weight management, sports performance, sustained energy, healthy aging and longevity.”

Ambrožič cautions, “The market of finished products is not yet well-developed — the products are relatively few and are mostly based on sugar blockers with relatively low efficacy or systemic products with vitamins, minerals, cinnamon and chromium, but with rare direct clinical support.” 

By Milana Nikolova