“Short-term intervention of prediabetic subjects with the nutraceutical Eriomin not only reduced hyperglycemia and increased blood GLP-1 secretion but also had a significant effect on beta diversity in the intestinal colon, changes that were related to the improvement of prediabetic dysbiosis,” the researchers wrote in the journal Food Science and Nutrition.
Ingredients by Nature, formed in 2008 by Brewster Nutrition, introduced Eriomin in 2019 to target the blood sugar management category with its combination of 70% eriocitrin, 5% hesperidin and 4% naringin citrus flavonoids.
Expanding the research
Robert Brewster, president at Ingredients by Nature, told NutraIngredients-USA that the latest study “continues to validate how Eriomin addresses multiple, interdependent functions and plays a vital role in supporting those with higher-than-normal blood glucose”.
This is the third human clinical trial on the blend’s potential for prediabetes and the first to investigate its influence on the human microbiota in the treatment of hyperglycemia in prediabetic adults.
In a 2019 study, a 12-week intervention with Eriomin at doses of 200 mg, 400 mg or 800 mg a day improved glycemic control, reduced systemic inflammation and oxidative stress and reversed the prediabetic condition in 24% of the evaluated patients. A second clinical trial, published in 2022, concluded that Eriomin benefitted glycemic control in prediabetics by increasing glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and supporting a healthy inflammatory response.
For this third study, the research team chose an Eriomin dose of 200 mg a day based on previous findings that the lower dose was sufficient to achieve all critical benefits.
Study details
The double-blind, randomized controlled trial randomly assigned 45 male and female volunteers (ages 30 to 69) with prediabetes to either an Eriomin or placebo group.
Participants consumed 200 mg a day of their assigned substance for 12 weeks and were instructed to maintain their usual diet, minimizing citrus foods and flavonoid-rich beverages. Two registered dietitians monitored both groups during the trial period, and blood and fecal samples were collected at the beginning and end of the study. The final analysis included 29 subjects who followed the experimental protocol.
According to the study findings, the citrus flavonoids are first metabolized by gut microbiota, producing energy for gut cells and short chain fatty acids that play a relevant role in glycemic control.
“The third clinical trial showed that Eriomin moderately reduced the growth of intestinal microorganisms associated with intestinal dysbiosis (Firmicutes and Lachnospiraceae), increased the abundance of short-chain fatty acid producers (Ruminococcaceae) and decreased the Blautia genus correlated with hyperglycemia in prediabetics patients,” Brewster explained.
Firmicutes and Lachnospiraceae are linked to glycemic dysregulation, metabolic syndrome, excess weight and prediabetes; Blautia with the weakening of the intestinal walls; and Ruminococcaceae with strengthening the intestinal barrier and supporting a healthy inflammatory response.
Furthermore, the study identified a positive correlation between Blautia and hyperglycemia, suggesting that Blautia depletion was associated with reduced blood glucose in patients treated with Eriomin.
“These results further demonstrate Eriomin’s potential for those who need support in maintaining healthy blood glucose levels,” Brewster added. “We are thrilled to share this news with the industry and will continue investigating Eriomin’s powerful effects for numerous health benefits.”
Future investigations will evaluate Eriomin in combination with conventional prediabetes medications and test the flavonoids in people with normal blood sugar levels to ensure that there are no significant side effects with continued use.
“Additionally, we plan to test Eriomin in obesity, based on the hypothesis that GLP-1 increase with Eriomin would help patients with improved weight management,” Brewster said. “Further studies are planned, to explore and understand the mechanisms underlying the metabolism of Eriomin lemon flavonoids.”
Lead Eriomin researcher Dr. Cesear Thais, a professor at Sao Paulo State University, will be on hand to review the growing body of science backing the blend at the Supply Side West trade show in Las Vegas from Oct. 25-26.
Source: Food Science & Nutrition
“Lemon flavonoids nutraceutical (Eriomin®) attenuates prediabetes intestinal dysbiosis: A double-blind randomized controlled trial”
doi: doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.3654
Authors: Fernanda M. M. Ramos
