Lemon flavonoids may boost metformin’s benefits in early prediabetes management

Eriomin, a triple-patented, lemon flavonoid blend by Ingredients By Nature, may enhance the performance of metformin, a medication commonly prescribed to treat high blood sugar in patients with diabetes. Results from a new clinical trial support the nutritional intervention’s safety and efficacy for the early management of hyperglycemia — high blood glucose.

The 26-week study prescribed daily supplementation of Eriomin (250 mg) and metformin (1,000 mg) to 71 prediabetic men and women (ages 18–65).

After completing this regimen, participants saw improvements in their postprandial glucose metabolism — the body’s processes after eating to regulate blood sugar — including a 5% reduction in glucose measured two hours after consuming sugar. They also preserved active GLP-1 levels.

Conversely, GLP-1 and increased insulin resistance declined in the placebo group.

“We are thrilled with the outcome of this clinical research. Frequently, there are concerns that medications or supplements might adversely impact each other when taken in conjunction,” says Rob Brewster, president at Ingredients By Nature.

Brewster assures no adverse interactions occurred when metabolically sensitive but otherwise healthy individuals took the combination.

“This is the fourth published human clinical study conducted on Eriomin, further backing its significant positive effects in supporting glycemic control, metabolic markers, GLP-1 levels, and antioxidant status.”

Immunity benefits

Made from lemon juice and peel, Eriomin is a standardized flavonoid blend largely comprising eriocitrin. It is backed by three US patents and is an adjunct for pharmaceutical developers, healthcare practitioners, dietary supplement manufacturers, and food and beverage formulators.

Participants consuming Eriomin in the study had 12% lower levels of TNF-α, a pro-inflammatory cytokine primarily produced by activated immune cells. They also recorded a 7.5% increase in plasma antioxidant capacity and “modest but significant” decreases in body weight, fat mass, and body mass index.

Their systolic blood pressure also lowered by 4%. The researchers say this may be linked to participants’ improved antioxidant status and higher dietary potassium intake. The study was published in Frontiers in Nutrition.

At last year’s Natural Products Expo West, Nutrition Insight connected with representatives of Ingredients by Nature to explore Eriomin’s potential to support liver function. They discussed how the ingredient boosts GLP-1 levels.

Next to its synergistic effects with metformin, the ingredient alone demonstrated an ability to improve diabetes‐related biomarkers in prediabetes patients, according to one study published in Food Science & Nutrition.