New Research Emerges on Innovative Standardized Bean Extract

10 Mar 2014 --- In line with its tradition of a research-based company, Indena has carried out further studies on its products for the health food market and is pleased to bring at Vitafoods 2014 its latest innovative standardized bean extract of Phaseolus vulgaris L. - Beanblock. According to the most recent clinical results it shows high performance for the regulation of appetite and healthy blood sugar levels.

Control of body weight represents today one of the most relevant target in the management of the epidemic problem of overweight and consequently with all the health risks connected with this condition, particularly when associated with hypertension and glucose intolerance. A balanced program of dietary intervention coupled with physical activity still represents a major tool in weight control. This apparently simple and reasonable approach is by far limited in efficacy by several reasons connected with the extremely complicated metabolic network resulting in weight control.

The possibility to control dietary carbohydrates metabolism and absorption seems a very promising approach. This has been partially achieved in recent years by using the so-called starch-blockers mostly connected with the inhibition of α-amylase, the most important enzyme involved in the gastrointestinal degradation of starch.

Starting from these concerns Indena has developed Beanblock, looking at the possibility to add new values to products provided with the capacity to modulate carbohydrate metabolism and absorption.

Beanblock is a patented purified bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) extract obtained from a single and specific Italian bean variety (Lamon) particularly rich in α-amylase inhibitor. It is triple standardized: enzymatically - inhibiting activity U/mg:≥1.100); chemically - ≥6% (HPLC -% w/w) in α-amylase inhibitor protein complex; biologically – haemagglutinating activity ≥ 10.000 ≤ 30.000 (HAU/g). Beanblock is standardized to contain a very high amount of α-amylase inhibitor (more than 100-fold in respect of the main available products on the market) together with the proper amount of bean PHA.

Beanblock is supported and proven effective by extensive preclinical data. Moreover, acute oral administration in healthy volunteers has shown that when employed as a supplement in a mixed Mediterranean balanced meal Banblock positively affects glucose metabolism; it also modulates ghrelin secretion and induces a longer duration of satiety, thus suggesting a potential use to control excessive food intake.

To know more, feel free to contact us, meet us at our booth no 17041 at Vitafoods International in Geneva and attend the seminar presentation ”Beanblock: a double-standardized bean extract for post-prandial blood glucose and appetite control” on Tuesday, May 6th, 15:45 – 16:15 – Seminar Theatre.

Reference:
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2. Carai et al., Diabetes Metab. Syn. Obes. Targ. Ther. 2:145-153 (2009)
3. Maccioni et al., Br. J. Nutr. 104:624-628 (2010)
4. Loi, B., et al., Fitoterapia 85:14-9 (2013)
5. Carai M. A., et al., Br. J. Nutr. 106; 762; (2011)
6. Spadafranca A., et al., Br. J. Nutr. 109(10):1789-95 (2013)