supplements

glucomannan

Generality

Glucomannan is a high molecular weight polysaccharide, formed by the concatenation of many small units of glucose and mannose (a sugar very common in vegetable polymers).

Glucomannan is extracted from the tuber of Amorphophallus konjac (see figure), a plant used in Japanese cuisine as a gelling agent.

The purified glucomannan is considered one of the most effective products to promote weight loss.

With its action it has in fact proved to be an ideal supplement in the context of diets globally aimed at controlling or reducing body weight.

In fact, this fiber has the ability to attract a lot of water, increasing its volume up to 60-100 times and giving rise to a soft gelatinous mass

Indications

Why is glucomannan used? What is it for?

Glucomannan is mainly used as a laxative, although several studies have now well characterized the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activity.

The clinical applications of glucomannan are due to its biological role.

In fact, once ingested, the glucomannamo reaches the intestinal environment unaltered, resisting the hydrolytic activity.

In the intestinal lumen the glucomannan is degraded by the intestinal bacterial flora, with the formation of biologically active molecules such as short chain fatty acids, mannose and other sugar residues.

These molecules would exert the metabolic actions of glucomannan, also acting directly on the intestinal microbiota.

The metabolic action of the catabolites of glucomannan would be added to the mechanical one (produced by the portion of undigested glucomannan), able to increase the faecal mass by attracting water and facilitating the evacuation, and to slow down the intestinal absorption of sugars and fats .

Property and Effectiveness

What benefits has glucomannan shown during the studies?

In addition to the well-characterized laxative activity, evidently supported by the simultaneous intake of liquids, recent studies have ascribed to glucomannan further valuable properties for the human organism.

In a very recent clinical trial, daily supplementation with 1 g of glucomannan in 20 obese women would have contributed to a significant lowering of blood LDL cholesterol concentrations, thus reducing the cardiovascular risk. Positive activity would also be observed for fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin.

Very interesting are also the data of other works, which attribute to the glucomannan antiobesigene activity. More precisely, the intake of about 4 g of glucommanan a day, in a controlled low-calorie dietetic context, would have improved the adherence to the diet, contributing both to a further lowering of lipidemic and glycemic concentrations, and to a more adequate one weight loss.

By virtue of these results, glucomannan is currently used successfully as an adjunct to the low-calorie diet in weight loss.

Doses and method of use

How to use glucomannan

The normally recommended intake dose varies from 1 to 4 grams per day.

Glucomannan supplements are available as powder or dry extract tablets. The best time to take them is half an hour before the main meals, so as to promote maximum reduction in appetite.

In any case, it is extremely important to take glucomannan supplements with at least one glass of water.

In fact, if the amount of water was not sufficient, glucomannan could even accentuate constipation.

Generally, supplements containing a certain number of 500 mg glucomannan capsules are commercially available.

The recommended intake dose is 6 tablets per day, one of which can be taken before breakfast, three before lunch and two before dinner. If instead the evening meal is more abundant than the afternoon it is better to take the maximum dose (3 tablets) before dinner.

Side effects

The most commonly observed adverse reactions following the use of glucomannan affect the gastrointestinal tract and include: swelling, flatulence, abdominal distension and cramping pains.

Diarrhea or intestinal or esophageal obstruction is rarer; this latter event is generally linked to the intake of glucomannan tablets immediately before going to bed, while intestinal obstructions are more likely when the supplement is taken in the context of a low-liquid diet.

Contraindications

When should glucomannan not be used?

The use of glucomannan is contraindicated in case of hypersensitivity to the active ingredient, intestinal obstruction and esophageal pathologies.

Pharmacological Interactions

Which drugs or foods can change the effect of glucomannan?

It has been widely demonstrated that glucomannan can reduce the intestinal absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, taken either as a supplement or through food.

Precautions for use

What do you need to know before taking glucomannan?

The use of glucomannan during pregnancy and subsequent breastfeeding should be avoided or supervised by medical personnel.

In order to avoid intestinal blockages, it is recommended to take an adequate quantity of fluids together with glucomannan and to avoid taking it before going to bed