Polyphenol-rich brown seaweed extract may signficantly improve glycemic status, says new study

Photo © iStockphoto.com/nicolas_ 

A new study published in Phytotherapy Research¹ demonstrates the long-term benefits of a nutraceutical formulation containing an extract of wild brown seaweed (InSea2 by innoVactiv; Rimouski, Quebec, Canada) and chromium picolinate. In the randomized, placebo-controlled study, 65 dysglycemic patients were randomized to the nutraceutical or placebo for six months. At baseline, three months, and six months, researchers evaluated the subjects’ blood glucose status by testing fasting plasma glucose, postprandial plasma glucose, hemoglobin A1C, fasting plasma insulin, and homeostatic model assessment index. Researchers also monitored inflammatory biomarkers such as high sensitivity C‐reactive protein, and tumor necrosis factor‐alpha.

Results showed that after six months, 18.2% of the patients in the nutraceutical group returned to a normal glycemic status, compared to zero patients in the placebo group. The nutraceutical group also saw a regression of dysglycemia, from impaired glucose tolerance to impaired fasting glucose, which is an improvement.

“We are thrilled about these new results, as they demonstrate the dramatic impact the use of InSea2 can have when taken on a daily basis. While all treated and placebo subjects followed the same strict diet and exercise regimen, researchers noticed a clear degradation of the glycemic condition in the placebo group, while two thirds of InSea2 subjects improved their glycemic status over the 6 months of the trial period”, said Jocelyn Bérubé, executive vice-president, science and regulatory affairs for innoVactiv, in a press release. “While our previous clinical studies have shown an immediate benefit of a single InSea2 intake on glycemic stress and brain acuity, these new results now clearly demonstrate the benefits of a daily use of InSea2 on glycemic health when taken over a longer period of time.”

The researchers attribute the improvement of glycemic status to the polyphenolic composition of InSea2, which is extracted from Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus species of wild brown seaweed.
 

References:

1. Derosa G et al. “Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus on glycemic status and on endothelial damage markers in dysglicemic patients.” Phytotherapy Research (2019): 1-7