Glucose Control for Healthy Aging: Mulberry Leaf’s Broad Applications

Consumer perceptions of health and wellness continue to evolve. Today, many consumers are proactively taking control of their health by seeking out science-based, health benefit-driven nutritional solutions that meet their specific needs. Particularly, nutritional products that are positioned for healthy aging are in demand – among both older and younger demographics – as consumers increasingly recognize the importance of building a healthy foundation and engaging in preventative care.

Maintaining healthy blood glucose levels is an important factor to assist with healthy aging: affecting metabolic health, cardiovascular health, cognitive functioning, cellular energy and body composition. In fact, calorie restriction and lowering post-meal glucose spikes have been shown to increase lifespan, slow aging and reduce risk for age-related diseases.

White mulberry leaf extract mimics calorie restriction and lowers post-meal glucose spikes by blocking the digestion of carbohydrates which has been shown to play a role in healthy aging and longevity. Backed by an extensive body of research, white mulberry leaves are high in nutrients and include a variety of health-promoting plant metabolites, such as the iminosugar 1-Deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), which resemble carbohydrate monosaccharides. This similarity with carbohydrates, allows it to ‘block’ enzymes normally used to break down sucrose and carbohydrates for absorption into the blood.

Reducose® – a proprietary water extract of mulberry leaves backed by multiple clinical studies – presents an opportunity to product formulators and brands to approach the healthy aging market through the various benefits maintaining healthy blood glucose levels support. With a long history of safe use, white mulberry leaf extract is a natural ingredient that is water soluble, heat and pH resistant, and has limited sensory impact – meaning it can be easily incorporated into several food and drink products, medical or special dietary foods, or used in dietary supplements.

Register for this webinar to learn about market trends related to reducing blood-glucose levels, an overview of the science and health benefits of mulberry leaf extract, and some of the ways this ingredient can be used in a broad range of applications across the food & beverage and supplement industries.

Speakers

Tom Vierhile, VP Strategic Insights, North America, Innova Market Insights

Tom Vierhile is vice president of strategic insights North America for Netherlands-based Innova Market Insights. He has more than 20 years of experience in packaged goods reporting and analysis. Based in Fairport, NY, he is a new product marketing expert and has been quoted by Bloomberg, Ad Age, The Wall Street Journal and NPR. Mr. Vierhile has given presentations on new product trends at conferences in the U.S., Europe, Asia and South America. A regular contributor to Prepared Foods magazine, Tom has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from St. Bonaventure University and an MBA from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

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Andrew Gallagher, Global Head of Science, Phynova Group Ltd.

For the past 14 years, Andrew has been working for the British life science company, Phynova Group Ltd. A scientist by training, Andrew has led the development of several functional ingredients for foods and healthcare products derived from plants. His experience covers the full value chain, from discovery R&D to clinical development and commercialisation. Andrew’s focus over the past few years has been in metabolic health, where he has helped develop and launch a proprietary mulberry leaf extract shown to significantly reduce the impact of carbohydrates on blood glucose levels. Andrew holds multiple academic degrees including an MBA in Finance, MSc in Biology, BSc Honours in Biological Science, and a BSc in Chemistry and Cell Biology. In his spare time, Andrew conducts research in the field of health economics where he is investigating the cost effectiveness of lifestyle interventions used alongside treatments for chronic diseases as part of a Ph.D.

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