Nutraceuticals World (NW): How does maintaining healthy blood sugar levels impact overall health? What mechanisms are involved?

Christopher Bailey, PhD, Director of Scientific Affairs, Gencor: Sugar is one of the major substrates the body uses to produce energy to sustain physiological functions. Increased blood sugar can promote the formation of AGEs (advanced-glycation end products), which can, in turn, affect the body’s levels of oxidative stress and the body’s inflammatory response.

NW: What’s your assessment of today’s market for natural blood sugar management solutions? What opportunities do you see for innovation?

Bailey: In my opinion, berberine has largely defined the market for supporting healthy blood sugar in dietary supplements in recent years, with one market report suggesting that the global market size could be over $1.8 billion by 2032. That said, brands will likely struggle if too many formulations on the market rely upon berberine alone and only have a price as a source of their differentiation. Ingredients that act upon different mechanisms of action to provide additive or synergistic effects to berberine or even serve as a complete alternative to berberine may be a source of innovation going forward.

NW: Gencor offers a portfolio of branded health ingredients. What solutions do you offer for healthy glucose support?

Bailey: For healthy blood sugar support, Gencor offers two novel, branded ingredients: Trigogen^® and Gencinia^®. Trigogen^® is an extract from the seeds of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), while Gencinia^® is an extract from the aerial parts of ivy gourd (Coccinia cordifolia / Coccinia grandis).

NW: Can you discuss the research supporting your products?

Bailey: While Trigogen^® and Gencinia^® differ in their botanical origins and dosages, both materials have one (Trigogen^®) or more (Gencinia^®) published human clinical trials demonstrating benefits for supporting healthy fasting blood sugar and a healthy blood sugar response to a meal.

NW: What kind of product applications are most suitable?

Bailey: Due to their botanical nature, these ingredients are best suited to capsule, tablet, and soft gel formats. That said, Gencor facilitates the exploration of other delivery formats with these ingredients by providing samples and referrals to R&D laboratories, flavor houses, and contract manufacturers to validate innovative concepts.