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Healthy Coffee; i-Coffee
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Tuesday, 03 March, 2015, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Dr. H N Shivaprasad
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fiogf49gjkf0d Coffee is a complex mixture of more than a thousand substances, including caffeine (primary source), phenolic compounds (chlorogenic acid and quinides - primary source), minerals and vitamins (magnesium, potassium, manganese, chromium, niacin), and fibers and several of these coffee constituents have a possible role in glucose metabolism. Coffee mixes well with herbs to moderate its effects or to create synergistic blends.
Coffee consumption has been associated with a substantially lower risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in prospective cohort studies in the United States (US), Europe, and Asia. The association between the coffee intake and the risk of developing has been examined by several researches. Data from a prospective study indicated an inverse association between coffee consumption and the risk of type 2 diabetes in men independently of race, age or serum concentration of magnesium. According to the publication in Lancet, Individuals who drank at least seven cups of coffee daily had 50% lower risk to develop type 2 diabetes than those who drank two cups or fewer per day.
Many research suggest that moderate consumption of both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee may lower risk of type 2 diabetes in younger and middle-aged women. Coffee constituents other than caffeine may affect the development of type 2 diabetes.
High coffee consumption has been associated with better glucose tolerance and a substantially lower risk of type 2 diabetes in diverse populations in Europe, the U.S., and Japan. However, it remains unclear what coffee components may be responsible for the apparent beneficial effect of coffee on glucose metabolism. In rats, intakes of the coffee components chlorogenic acid, quinic acid, trigonelline, and the lignan secoisolariciresinol improved glucose metabolism. Short-term metabolic studies in humans have shown that caffeine can acutely lower insulin sensitivity. However, the long-term effects of caffeine intake on glucose metabolism are unknown, and beneficial effects on insulin sensitivity through increased expression of uncoupling proteins have also been suggested.
Prediabetes
Prediabetes, also known as intermediate hyperglycemia, is a high-risk state for diabetes. It is defined as glycemic variables that are higher than normal, but lower than the diabetes threshold. About 5–10% of people per year with prediabetes will progress to diabetes, with the same proportion converting back to normoglycemia. The worldwide prevalence of prediabetes is increasing and experts have projected that more than 470 million people will have prediabetes by the year 2030. Prediabetes is associated with the simultaneous presence of insulin resistance and ß-cell dysfunction—abnormalities that start before glucose changes are detectable. Those individuals suffering from prediabetes may often suffer from hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and insulin resistance-linked obesity—all factors that sharply increase the risk of heart disease. Intensive lifestyle intervention is required to prevent progression of prediabetes to diabetes.
What is i-Coffee?
i-Coffee is a synergistic composition prepared by blending 4 herbs which have extensive traditional application for diabetes along with coffee base. The synergy of these herbs have proven in In-vitro glucose uptake activity using skeletal muscle cells (L6 cells).
Skeletal muscle is the main tissue involved in insulin induced stimulation of glucose uptake. Insulin increases glucose uptake in skeletal muscle by increasing functional glucose transport molecules in the plasma membrane. Glucose transport in skeletal muscle can also be stimulated by contractile activity. In skeletal muscle, both insulin and contractile activity stimulate translocation of glucose transporter GLUT-4 protein from an intracellular membrane pool to the plasma membrane. Resistance to this stimulatory effect of insulin is a major pathological feature of diabetes. L6 cells represent a good model for glucose uptake because they have been used extensively to elucidate the mechanisms of glucose uptake in muscle, have an intact insulin signaling pathway, and express the insulin sensitive GLUT-4.
Synergistic composition in i-Coffee (Herbs; Salacia, Fenugreek, Phaseolus, and Pterocarpus)
Medicinal plants, since times immemorial, have been used in virtually all cultures for controlling and preventing diabetes. In Ayurvedic medicine, Salacia species (e.g., Salacia oblonga and Salacia reticulata) known as Ponkoranti, have been used for thousands of years for the treatment of diabetes. Salacia extracts have been extensively consumed in Japan, the United States, and other countries as a food supplement for the prevention of obesity and diabetes.
Traditionally, S. reticulata is ingested as an herbal tea, in which, a tea bag of the herbal mixture is steeped in boiling water and ingested. The roots and stems of S. reticulata and the roots of S. oblonga have been extensively used for the treatment of rheumatism, gonorrhea, skin diseases, and particularly as a specific remedy for the initial stages of diabetes in the ayurvedic system of traditional medicine. In several clinical studies, Salacia species have been reported for its hypoglycemic activity.
SALCITALTM is a branded ingredient of Olive Lifesciences, standardized to contain desired percentage of polyphenols in Salacia reticulata extract. Clinical study published in Journal of Medicinal Food, SALCITAL may benefit pre-diabetes management and mild to moderate hyperlipidemia. The randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated the efficacy and safety of SALCITAL extract in 29 subjects with pre-diabetes and mild to moderate hyperlipidemia. Subjects received either Salacia extracts or placebos, along with therapeutic lifestyle changes, for a period of six weeks. Researchers observed a significant reduction in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels at weeks three and six in patients treated with SALCITAL.
Pterocarpus marsupium is a deciduous moderate to large tree found in India mainly in hilly region. Pterostilbene, a constituent derived from wood of this plant found to have hypoglycemic activity. Flavonoid fraction from Pterocarpus marsupium has been shown to cause pancreatic beta cell regranulation.
Phaseolus vulgaris, the white kidney bean, or common bean, is an herbaceous annual plant in the Fabaceae family. The seed is rich in the presence and concentration of flavonol glycosides, anthocyanins, and tannins. P. vulgaris is gaining increasing attention as a functional or nutraceutical food, due to its rich variety of phytochemicals with potential health benefits in management of diabetes. Preclinical investigations have unanimously reported how the acute, repeated administration of extracts of P. vulgaris, as well as some of their isolated ingredient reduced food intake, body weight, and lipid accumulation.
Trigonella foenum-graecum is an annual herb from the family Fabaceae. Its seeds are known as Trigonella seeds or as Fenugreek. Its’ leaves are used as a good source of calcium, iron, ß-carotene and several vitamins and whereas the seed is good source of protein (20-30%) high in tryptophan and lysine; free amino acids (4-hydroxyisoleucine, arginine, lysine, histidine); fat and crude fibre. Extract of Trigonella and its constituent 4-hydroxyisoleucine has reported to have potent anti-diabetic activity.
The above standardized herbal extracts are blended in a suitable proportion with coffee beans powder (Coffee Arabica). The composition in coffee (i-Coffee) is indeed associated with synergy for healthy blood sugar management. Pre-diabetes may result in long term damage to the body, especially to the heart and circulatory system. Research has demonstrated that i-Coffee control blood glucose levels for one having pre-diabetes can prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. i-Coffee is developed by DSIR (Department of Scientific and Industrial Research) recognized R&D center of Olive Lifesciences, Bangalore and marketed by Indus Viva HealthSciences Pvt Ltd, Bangalore.
(The author is Vice President – Research & Technical Affairs, Olive Lifesciences Pvt Ltd., Bangalore. He can be contacted at shiv@olivelifesciences.com)
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