HP Ingredients Named Delphinol® Sales Agent

BRADENTON, Fla.HP Ingredients was named exclusive North American sales and marketing agent for Delphinol®, a  purified and concentrated standardized extract of maqui berry (Aristotelia chilensis).

Delphinol® is a dietary ingredient manufactured exclusively by Maqui New Life SA, a bio-science company headquartered in Chile. The extract contains a total anthocyanin content of 35 percent and total delphinidin content of 25 percent.

Researchers at the Universidad Austral de Chile discovered Delphinol® can control sugar adsorption when the extract is prepared from wild-growing whole maqui berries inhibited Na+- dependent glucose transport (SGLT -1) and stimulated incretin secretion. This regulation of SGLT -1 involves a postprandial mechanism followed by a recruitment of glucose transporter GLUT -2depending on the level of sugars in an intestinal lumen. The activity of SGLT -1 and GLUT -2 increases in type 2 diabetes.

"Overeating and lack of physical exercise is turning into a global pandemic with metabolic syndrome as the hallmark and type II diabetes representing the fastest growing disease," said Juan Hancke, researcher at Universidad Austral de Chile. "Today's lifestyle makes it difficult to turn to healthier lifestyles that include improved dietary control and regular physical activity."

During phase I pilot study, Delphinol® decreased the postprandial glucose and plasma insulin in patients with impaired glucose tolerance which modifies the shape of the curves in insulin and glucose. This suggests its potential use for prediabetic patients and the use of metabolic disorders associated with impaired carbohydrate metabolism.

Volunteers received either a single supplementation with 200 mg Delphinol® or placebo. Thirty minutes later, patients consumed 75 grams of rice and the subsequent postprandinal blood glucose and insulin responses were monitored. The placebo-treated patients showed a typical rise of gluclose and insulin levels in one hour. After 90 minutes, the glucose and insulin increased to a limited extent and then dropped to baseline levels.

The study showed encouraging news for consumers who wish to control their blood sugar and insulin levels and appetite.

"In this context, polyphenols from berries, fruits and vegetables have shown to contribute to a healthier blood sugar control and maintain body weight within normal limits," Hancke said. "Typically the plant polyphenols slow down absorption of dietary starch, releasing the glucose less rapidly into the blood stream by impairing the activity of digestive enzymesalpha-amylase and alpha glucosidase."