In this insightful collaborative blog post, we are delighted to host David, an esteemed guest author who recently co-presented a weight management webinar with Nexira. David explores the two new intriguing ingredients launched by Nexira: Carolean™ and VinOgrape™ Plus.

Satiety and Microbiome Support for Weight Management

Natural solutions for weight management often bring a sour taste into the mouths of those who struggle to maintain a healthy weight.  Fad diets, false advertising, and promises of the miracle pill to shed 30 pounds in 30 days have left consumers numb.  Having said this, two new ingredients recently caught my attention: Carolean^TM and VinOgrape^TM Plus. We must examine the 11 underlying contributing factors for weight management to understand why these ingredients caught my attention.  I wrote an article on these 11 underlying contributing factors earlier this year to help us all understand why people struggle with weight management.  For a quick reminder, the 11 factors are Leptin, Ghrelin, AMPK, Inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha/Interleukin-6), Insulin, Insulin resistance, Pituitary (primarily cortisol), Adiponectin, Oxidative stress, Microbiome, and Sleep.^{[i] [ii] [iii] [iv] [v] [vi] [vii]} 

These two new ingredients fit into three of these 11 areas. Let’s take a quick look at the areas they should impact.

Ghrelin

Ghrelin is a hormone made by the stomach when it is empty.  Therefore, ghrelin increases food intake and fat deposits and decreases energy production (your body’s way of storing energy for future use).[viii]  The microbiome is vital in ghrelin production since this process starts in the gut.  If we feel full, we are less likely to want to snack between meals and eat less at mealtime.

Insulin Resistance

When cells become too resistant to insulin, this results in elevated blood sugar levels, leading to weight gain.

• Losing weight with insulin resistance is more difficult because the body stores excess blood sugar as fat.[ix]

Gut-Brain Connection (Impacting the Microbiome)

The production of hunger hormones (ghrelin and leptin) and an unhealthy gut microbiome can increase inflammatory markers, which may lead to weight gain and metabolic problems.[x]

• The feelings of appetite and satiety involve complex interactions between hormones from the gastrointestinal tract to the hypothalamus (found in the brain, i.e., Gut-Brain connection) and subsequent feedback (Ghrelin/leptin).[xi] [xii]

Now that we know the three areas in which these ingredients may work let’s examine why Carolean^TM and VinOgrape^TM Plus are healthy options for those seeking something to help fit into their daily life for weight management and have no harmful side effects.

Carolean^TM

Rational

• Satiety can stop the production of the hormone ghrelin.  Ghrelin is secreted when the stomach is empty and triggers feelings of hunger.[xiv]
• Feeling full triggers, Peptide YY is released and ultimately binds to receptors in the brain, decreasing appetite and creating satiety.[xv]

Triggering Satiety:  A Powerful and Safe way to support weight management

• Decrease in desire to snack
• Decrease in food consumption during meals
• Decrease in total daily calorie intake
• Using texture and viscosity yields no harmful health effects

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Gut-Brain Connection

The production of hunger hormones (Ghrelin and leptin) and an unhealthy gut microbiome can increase inflammatory markers, which may lead to weight gain and metabolic disease.[xvi]

• The feelings of appetite and satiety involve complex interactions between hormones from the gastrointestinal tract to the hypothalamus and subsequent feedback (Ghrelin/leptin).[xvii] [xviii]

Polyphenols and Microbiome Connection[xix]

• Polyphenols from grapes are not well absorbed and, therefore, reach the colon in an unaltered form (prebiotic effect).
• The effect of polyphenols on the intestinal microbiota is achieved by influencing the growth and metabolism of bacteria (prebiotic activity).
• Recent studies demonstrated the beneficial effect of grape polyphenols by stimulating bacteria such as Akkermansia muciniphila (AM).  AM has positive influences in several areas that influence weight management (for example, insulin resistance.[xx])
• Red grape extract or grape seeds were observed to have many benefits by increasing important probiotics such as Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Clostridiales, and Ruminococcus. (A positive impact on the microbiome)

Impact on the balance of good and bad organisms in the gut

 Dysbiosis and its impact on metabolic health and weight management[xxi]

Dysbiosis is the technical term for when you have an imbalance of good microorganisms to bad microorganisms in your gut.  Having more bad microorganisms vs. good microorganisms causes “dysbiosis,” which leads to other more severe health issues, including weight gain.  We can see below how dysbiosis impacts weight management.

• The microbiome influences alterations in energy balance and immunity, leading to metabolic dysfunction (e.g., insulin resistance)
• Dysbiosis is a possible contributing factor to metabolic conditions.

Increases in Akkermansia muciniphila and weight management connections[xxii] [xxiii]

Akkermansia muciniphila is a beneficial bacteria (probiotic).  We can see from the points below how supporting its growth as mentioned above in our discussion of grape polyphenols.

• Akkermansia muciniphila has been linked to decreased fat layers under the skin, waist-to-hip ratios, and fasting blood glucose levels.
• It may induce a noticeable improvement in insulin sensitivity metabolism, reduce metabolic syndrome, and therefore may help with weight management.
• The abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila was strongly connected to body mass index (BMI).  (More Akkermansia muciniphila means lower BMI.)
• Significantly reduced insulin sensitivity, decreased total cholesterol, and slightly reduced body weight compared to the placebo group.[xxiv]

Putting a Bow on this Topic

Over the past several decades, weight management has been a growing topic (no pun intended).  Many ingredients have entered the marketplace during these years, claiming to be the next magic solution.  The problem with most of them is that they often come with unwanted side effects such as bad for blood pressure, triggering anxious feelings, interfering with sleep, bloating, and so much more.  Carolean and VinOgrape^TM Plus provide safe and effective ways to address weight management without unwanted side effects.  They also offer benefits in three critical underlying causes for weight management.

If you want to learn more about the Healthy Weight market and Nexira’s launches, we invite you to watch our 30-minute webinar replay, ‘Holistic Weight Management: How to Address this Shifting Market & Adapt Your Nutraceutical Offer.’ Our experts will guide you through the latest trends, strategies, and opportunities in this dynamic field. Click on the picture below to gain access to the on-demand replay. Unlock the secrets to success in the ever-evolving world of weight management and nutraceuticals!

Need more information? Samples?

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[ii] Rucker P, Ikuta T. Pituitary Gland Functional Connectivity and BMI.  Front Neurosci.  2019 Mar 1;13:120. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00120. PMID: 30881281; PMCID: PMC6405688.
[iii] Sikaris KA.  The clinical biochemistry of obesity.  Clin Biochem Rev. 2004 Aug;25(3):165-81.  PMID: 18458706; PMCID: PMC1880830.
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[vi] Mao Kemin, Gao Jie, Wang Xianghong, Li Xiyu, Geng Shuo, Zhang Tuo, Sadiq Faizan Ahmed, Sang Yaxin, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp.  lactic BB-12 Has Effect Against Obesity by Regulating Gut Microbiota in Two Phases in Human Microbiota-Associated Rats, Frontiers in Nutrition 8 2022, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2021.811619, DOI=10.3389/fnut.2021.811619
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[viii] Poher AL, Tschöp MH, Müller TD. Ghrelin regulation of glucose metabolism.  Peptides.  2018 Feb;100:236-242.
[ix] Kahn BB, Flier JS.  Obesity and insulin resistance.  J Clin Invest.  2000 Aug;106(4):473-81. doi: 10.1172/JCI10842. PMID: 10953022; PMCID: PMC380258.
[x] Petraroli M, Castellone E, Patianna V, Esposito S. Gut Microbiota and Obesity in Adults and Children: The State of the Art. Front Pediatr.  2021 Mar 19;9:657020. doi: 10.3389/fped.2021.657020. PMID: 33816411; PMCID: PMC8017119.
[xi] Leeuwendaal NK, Cryan JF, Schellekens H. Gut peptides and the microbiome: focus on ghrelin. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2021 Apr 1;28(2):243-252. doi: 10.1097/MED.0000000000000616.  PMID: 33481425; PMCID: PMC7924980.
[xii] Rajala MW, Patterson CM, Opp JS, Foltin SK, Young VB, Myers MG Jr. Leptin acts independently of food intake to modulate gut microbial composition in male mice.  Endocrinology.  2014 Mar;155(3):748-57. doi: 10.1210/en.2013-1085. Epub 2014 Jan 1.  PMID: 24424041; PMCID: PMC3929727.
[xiii] Stribiţcaia E, Evans CEL, Gibbons C, Blundell J, Sarkar A. Food texture influences on satiety: systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Rep. 2020 Jul 31;10(1):12929. Doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-69504-y.  PMID: 32737349; PMCID: PMC7395742.
[xiv] Yeung AY, Tadi P. Physiology, Obesity Neurohormonal Appetite And Satiety Control.  [Updated 2023 Jan 3]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-.  Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK555906/
[xv] Karra E, Chandarana K, Batterham RL. The role of peptide YY in appetite regulation and obesity.  J Physiol.  2009 Jan 15;587(1):19-25.  doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2008.164269.  Epub 2008 Dec 8.  PMID: 19064614; PMCID: PMC2670018.
[xvi] Petraroli M, Castellone E, Patianna V, Esposito S. Gut Microbiota and Obesity in Adults and Children: The State of the Art. Front Pediatr.  2021 Mar 19;9:657020. doi: 10.3389/fped.2021.657020. PMID: 33816411; PMCID: PMC8017119.
[xvii] Leeuwendaal NK, Cryan JF, Schellekens H. Gut peptides and the microbiome: focus on ghrelin. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2021 Apr 1;28(2):243-252. doi: 10.1097/MED.0000000000000616.  PMID: 33481425; PMCID: PMC7924980.
[xviii] Rajala MW, Patterson CM, Opp JS, Foltin SK, Young VB, Myers MG Jr. Leptin acts independently of food intake to modulate gut microbial composition in male mice.  Endocrinology.  2014 Mar;155(3):748-57. doi: 10.1210/en.2013-1085. Epub 2014 Jan 1.  PMID: 24424041; PMCID: PMC3929727.
[xix] Plamada D, Vodnar DC. Polyphenols-Gut Microbiota Interrelationship: A Transition to a New Generation of Prebiotics.  Nutrients.  2021 Dec 28;14(1):137. doi: 10.3390/nu14010137. PMID: 35011012; PMCID: PMC8747136.
[xx] Jian H, Liu Y, Wang X, Dong X, Zou X. Akkermansia muciniphila as a Next-Generation Probiotic in Modulating Human Metabolic Homeostasis and Disease Progression: A Role Mediated by Gut-Liver-Brain Axes? Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Feb 15;24(4):3900. doi: 10.3390/ijms24043900. PMID: 36835309; PMCID: PMC9959343
[xxi] Aoun A, Darwish F, Hamod N.  The Influence of the Gut Microbiome on Obesity in Adults and the Role of Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics for Weight Loss.  Prev Nutr Food Sci. 2020 Jun 30;25(2):113-123.  doi: 10.3746/pnf.2020.25.2.113.  PMID: 32676461; PMCID: PMC7333005
[xxii] Jian H, Liu Y, Wang X, Dong X, Zou X. Akkermansia muciniphila as a Next-Generation Probiotic in Modulating Human Metabolic Homeostasis and Disease Progression: A Role Mediated by Gut-Liver-Brain Axes? Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Feb 15;24(4):3900. doi: 10.3390/ijms24043900. PMID: 36835309; PMCID: PMC9959343.
[xxiii] Aoun A, Darwish F, Hamod N.  The Influence of the Gut Microbiome on Obesity in Adults and the Role of Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics for Weight Loss.  Prev Nutr Food Sci. 2020 Jun 30;25(2):113-123.  doi: 10.3746/pnf.2020.25.2.113.  PMID: 32676461; PMCID: PMC7333005
[xxiv] epommier C., Everard A., Druart C., Plovier H., Van Hul M., Vieira-Silva S., Falony G., Raes J., Maiter D., Delzenne N.M., et al. Supplementation with Akkermansia muciniphila in overweight and obese human volunteers: A proof-of-concept exploratory study.  Nat.  Med. 2019;25:1096–1103.  doi: 10.1038/s41591-019-0495-2.

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This communication is not intended to the final consumer. It provides scientific information for professionals only. Communications to the final consumer have to be checked according to local regulations in force, since the conditions of use are beyond our control. This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.