Sweet Victory’s Ayurvedic chewing gum may reduce sweet cravings in diabetics

Clinical research has found that Sweet Victory’s functional chewing gum — formulated with the powdered leaves of the Gymnema sylvestre plant — may help patients with type 1 diabetes reduce consumption of sweet snacks by more than half. The formulation is designed to temporarily modulate sweet taste perception. 

As an ancient Indian botanical ingredient prized in traditional Ayurvedic medicine, G. sylvestre leaf powder has been studied for its positive effect on metabolic balance and the body’s ability to naturally counteract the appetite for sweets.

“This pilot trial — actually an investigator-initiated study — was conducted on patients diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, as this is a population for whom controlling sugar intake is especially critical,” says Gitit Lahav, CEO and co-founder of Sweet Victory.

“The study’s researchers were prompted by the recognition of gymnema’s potential benefits for diabetic patients. Sweet Victory gum represents a sensory-based behavioral nutritional intervention that has the potential to help people break the sugar habit and make better food choices in the long term.”

Although the researchers observed a trend toward reduced sweet consumption, they caution that differences between the gum and placebo were not statistically significant. “Findings suggest a potential behavioral effect that warrants confirmation in larger trials,” they underscore.

Sweet Victory is preparing its entry into the US market, setting up partnerships with international distributors and health-focused retail channels. The company is broadening its European footprint with a roll-out across Eastern Europe later this year.

Curbing sweet temptations

Launched in 2022, Sweet Victory gum is commercially available in several international markets, including Sweden, Germany, and Italy, through its expanding network of distributors and online channels.

Sweet Victory highlights that both modern research and centuries of traditional use recognize G. sylvestre’s ability to help suppress the perception of sweetness and reduce the desire for sugary foods. The botanical is sometimes nicknamed the “sugar destroyer” for its historical use in contexts of sweetness perception.

The randomized, double-blind trial published in the Journal of Diabetes Epidemiology and Management included 22 volunteers with type 1 diabetes mellitus who were struggling to manage their consumption of sweets.

Sweet Victory is preparing its entry into the US market, setting up partnerships with international distributors and health-focused retail channels.The participants were instructed to chew on Sweet Victory gum with 70 mg of the botanical or a placebo three times a day over two weeks and at times when the urge for sweet bingeing was the strongest.

Candidates submitted pre-trial questionnaires and food diaries, which researchers used to assess their intake of sweets and determine their eligibility for participation in the trial.

Using continuous glucose monitors, the researchers measured the blood glucose levels of participants during the intervention.

Findings reveal that there were no significant differences in the glycemic parameters between the Sweet Victory and placebo groups. Those who chewed Sweet Victory gum cut their consumption of sugary treats by more than 50% while the placebo group showed no significant change.

The trial was completed at the Institute of Endocrinology, Metabolism, Hypertension, and Diabetes at the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center in Israel.

Gum as a behavioral training tool

Participants chewing Sweet Victory gum also reported a noticeable change in the flavor of sweet foods, with some finding them bland and less appealing. Moreover, those in this group reported feeling “more in control” of their food choices.

Scientists have identified the structure of the human sweet taste receptor, which is a protein complex on the surface of the tongue’s taste receptor cells that detects sweetness. Sugars bind to this receptor, activating it and signaling a sweet sensation to the brain.

This mechanism is believed to be behind the modulation in taste perception by Sweet Victory’s proprietary formulation. It acts by blocking the sugar receptors on the tongue and dulling the perception of sweetness. The effect has been shown to last for up to two hours.

“This study highlights the potential of using Sweet Victory’s innovative gum as a behavioral tool that could help reduce sweet cravings and the consumption of sugary foods,” says Assaf Buch, Ph.D., a senior researcher and lecturer at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical center and the Nutritional Sciences Department at Ariel University. 

“Such an approach may be particularly relevant for individuals at risk of metabolic disease, including those with prediabetes for whom reducing sugar intake is a key preventive strategy.”

Follow-up studies will be necessary to explore the long-term benefits of Sweet Victory gum on glycemic control and dietary habits.Buch adds that because this clinical trial was a short preliminary study, further research based on a larger sample size and for a longer duration is needed to better confirm these findings.

Additionally, follow-up studies will be necessary to explore the long-term benefits of Sweet Victory gum on glycemic control and dietary habits, not only in type 1 diabetes patients but also in other at-risk groups and wellness-oriented people.

“While awareness around the negative health impacts of excessive sugar intake is growing, controlling the urge to indulge is a common struggle and one of the biggest nutritional challenges,” underscores Shimrit Lev, co-founder and COO of Sweet Victory.

“Sweet Victory provides people with a small, enjoyable intervention that fits naturally into everyday life and helps reduce cravings at the moments when they are strongest. This research supports our long-term plans for developing new delivery systems for gymnema leaf as science-endorsed dietary aids for a broad consumer base.”

G. sylvestre extract is a component of GlucoVantage, a branded version of dihydroberberine (an advanced form of berberine) produced by NNB Nutrition.