BELINAL® – REDUCTION OF POST-PRANDIAL BLOOD GLUCOSE  – ANTI DIABETIC ACTIVITY

Belinal® is patented 100% natural silver fir branch extract demonstrating carbohydrate blocking properties. This effect is beneficial for prevention of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.

MECHANISM OF ACTION

An excessive consumption of carbohydrates with high Glycemic Index can lead to weight gain, glycemic disorders and type 2 diabetes.

Belinal® inhibits the enzymes alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase that break down carbohydrates so that not all carbohydrates are converted to glucose at one time. This can help you maintain a healthy glucose level and control the carbohydrate intake. Belinal® reduces the postprandial hyperglycemia induced by starchy meal. 

Main ingredients of Belinal®, as reported in scientific literature, may also have other mechanisms of anti-diabetic activity:

  • Increased glucose uptake into muscle cells via activation of AMPK pathway
  • Increased glucose uptake into the cells (adipocytes) due to the increased translocation of glucose transporters GLUT4 and increased expression of adiponectin
  • Protection and regeneration of pancreatic ß-cells
  • Inhibition of glucose transporters (SGLT1 and SGLT2) in the intestinal wall

High concentration of post-prandial glucose in blood is a significant risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some types of cancer.

CLINICAL STUDY

Randomised, double blind, placebo controlled and active controlled (Acarbose) clinical study with 31 healthy adults proved that after the consumption of a 100 g of white bread supplemented with Belinal®, concentration of the blood glucose was significantly reduced (See figure below). No side effects appeared during the study.

When Belinal® was taken orally in a form of a capsule during a standard meal glycemic index of the meal was reduced by 35%. This means 35 % reduction of post-prandial glucose concentration in a blood; consequently there is a reduced risk factor for the development of many diseases. Moreover, the observed reduced pancreatic secretion of insulin after ingestion of Belinal® shows that Belinal® prevents the overload of pancreas and its possible damage. Furthermore, the reduced post-prandial blood glucose demonstrates that the absorption of glucose is reduced or delayed from the meal when supplemented with Belinal®. Therefore, Belinal® may also contribute to the control of the body weight.

PANCREATIC SECRETION OF INSULIN

This effect of Belinal® is beneficial for prevention of type 2 diabetes.

Starch digestion blocking effect of Belinal® is beneficial to:

  • Helps in the management of body weight
  • Makes you feel less tired after eating a meal
  • Helps you maintain a healthy glucose level
  • Lowers glycemic index of a meal
  • Prevents type 2 diabetes

Belinal® may be of interest for people looking for natural solutions to manage post-meal blood glucose and body weight without side effects.

References

  1. Dickinson S, Brand-Miller J: Glycemic index, postprandial glycemia and cardiovascular disease. Curr Opin Lipidol 2005; 16: 69–75.
  2. Hodge A, English D, O’Dea K, Giles G: Glycemic index and dietary fiber and the risk of type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care 2004; 27: 2701–2706.
  3. Brand-Miller J: Glycemic load and chronic disease. Nutr Rev 2003; 61:S49–S55.
  4. Opperman A, Venter C, Oosthuizen W, Thompson R, Vorster H: Meta-analysis of the health effects of using the glycaemic index in meal-planning. Br J Nutr 2004; 92: 367–381. 
  5. Rizkalla S, Bellisle F, Slama G: Health benefi ts of low glycaemic index foods, such as pulses, in diabetic patients and healthy individuals. Br J Nutr 2002; 88:S255–S262. 
  6. Roberts S, Pittas A: The role of glycemic index in type 2 diabetes. Nutr Clin Care 2003; 6: 73– 78. 
  7. Brand-Miller JC, Holt SH, Pawlak DB, Mc- Millan J: Glycemic index and obesity. Am J Clin Nutr 2002; 76:S281–S285. 
  8. Ludwig D: Dietary glycemic index and the regulation of body weight. Lipids 2003; 38: 117– 121. 
  9. Yoon SA, Kang SI, Shin HS, Kang SW, Kim JH, Ko HC, et al. p-Coumaric acid modulates glucose and lipid metabolism via AMP-activated protein kinase in L6 skeletal muscle cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2013;432(4):553-7.
  10. Scazzocchio B, Vari R, Filesi C, D’Archivio M, Santangelo C, Giovannini C, et al. Cyanidin-3-O-beta-glucoside and protocatechuic acid exert insulin-like effects by upregulating PPARgamma activity in human omental adipocytes. Diabetes. 2011;60(9):2234-44
  11. Johnston K, Sharp P, Clifford M, Morgan L. Dietary polyphenols decrease glucose uptake by human intestinal Caco-2 cells. FEBS Lett. 2005;579(7):1653-7.
  12. Latha RC, Daisy P. Insulin-secretagogue, antihyperlipidemic and other protective effects of gallic acid isolated from Terminalia bellerica Roxb. in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Chem Biol Interact. 2011;189(1-2):112-8.
  13. J Debeljak, P Ferk, M Čokolič, A Zavratnik, E Tavčar Benković, S Kreft, B Štrukelj.  Study report on the randomised, double blind, cross-over, placebo controlled and active controlled human pharmacodynamic study on the influence of silver fir trunk wood extract (Belinal®) on the post-prandial glycaemic response. Die Pharmazie 2016, in press.