Insulomin-R®

What is Insulomin-R® and what is it used for?

Yamamoto® Nutrition Insulomin-R is a food supplement developed to support carbohydrate metabolism, improve insulin sensitivity and maintain stable blood glucose levels. Made entirely from plant extracts (berberis, bitter melon, gymnema, cinnamon) and with the addition of chromium and R-alpha-lipoic acid, Insulomin-R is an innovative, complete and effective GDA (Glucose Disposal Agent), able to help the body to absorb carbohydrates more efficiently and direct them towards the formation of muscle and liver glycogen. It is known that diets characterized by an excess of carbohydrates over time can contribute to a decrease in insulin sensitivity, with consequent systemic inflammation and a tendency to accumulate body fat. : Constantly elevated insulin levels (hyperinsulinemia) can cause alterations in the body’s ability to utilize carbohydrates and also in their metabolism by muscle cells, resulting in excess unused circulating glucose, which will be converted into triglycerides through a process known as “de-novo lipogenesis“. The triglycerides produced will then be deposited in adipose tissue, fueling an altered metabolic condition that is clearly in conflict with both athletic and general health goals. In fact, all athletes need to maintain correct nutrients partitioning, or an efficient distribution of macronutrients: ensuring good insulin sensitivity, thanks to training, nutrition and supplementation is essential to improve the management of carbohydrates by muscle cells, promoting their use for the production of glycogen and consequently optimizing both performance and recovery. The role of GDA is in fact to ensure that the insulin released by the pancreas following the ingestion of a carbohydrate-rich meal can direct the carbohydrates towards the muscle cell, making the muscle building phase more effective. The use of a GDA supplement does not exclude first of all adjusting the diet, which must be varied and balanced, but Insulomin-R can help in supporting metabolic health, re-sensitizing the cells to the action of insulin, significantly restoring the correct absorption of carbohydrates. This action is clearly useful not only for athletes and sportsmen, but also in the case of insulin resistance.

What elements is Insulomin-R® composed of?

The elements that make up the strength of action of Insulomin-R are Lipoic acid, berberis extract (Berberine), bitter melon extract (Momordicin®), Gymnema Sylvestre extract, cinnamon and Chromium picolinate. This synergy of active ingredients allows to enhance the natural insulin action,promoting a flow of glucose conveyed more towards the muscle cells, reducing the possibility that this sugar is converted and stored in the adipose tissue. Lipoic Acid is a fat-soluble molecule abundantly present in the mitochondria, and its use is recommended for the treatment of hyperglycemia and also for the female population suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It is proposed as a NON-pharmacological solution in the case of pre-diabetes to normalize blood sugar levels, and has many scientific works to support its functionality, making the benefit derived from its intake evident. Berberine, obtained from the extract of berberis, is a powerful alkaloid recommended for those suffering from insulin resistance and for glycemia management. Its action is expressed by activating AMPK (Adenosine Monophosphate activated Protein Kinase), a key enzyme for cellular energy metabolism. AMPK activation has the main effects of stimulating the oxidation of hepatic fatty acids, ketogenesis, slowing down lipogenesis (the formation of fat) and inhibiting the synthesis of cholesterol and triglycerides. This enzyme also has the ability to stimulate glucose absorption by the muscle and modulate insulin secretion by the beta cells of the pancreas. Using Berberine therefore allows for better use of carbohydrates by muscle cells, supporting glycogen synthesis and recovery. Bitter melon (also called bitter melon or Mormodica Charantia) seems to have a powerful insulin-sensitizing effect, therefore useful for improving insulin resistance problems (due to high sugar consumption for a long time, bulking phases or prolonged hyperglycemia). Modern scientific evidence agrees in confirming bitter melon as one of the most promising plants for the natural treatment of diabetes: it can in fact stimulate insulin secretion (through complex mechanisms of action that include the activation of AMPK and the inhibition of PTP1B, which usually deactivates the insulin receptor), and increase the expression of the membrane transporter for glucose GLUT-4. The extract of the climbing plant Gymnema Sylvestre is also interesting for its contribution to weight control: its leaves are rich in polyphenols and triterpene glycosides (such as gurmarin and gymnemic acid A1), substances that act by binding to the taste receptors present on the tongue (gurmarin), mitigating the perception of the sweet taste and consequently lowering the desire for sugar-based foods, and also to those of glucose present in the intestinal tract (gymnemic acid A1), reducing the absorption of sugars.

On average,: the blockade of glucose receptors occurs after one hour from the intake of gymnema and lasts for several hours: scientific literature even seems to suggest a parallel regeneration of the endocrine cells of the pancreas. As a result, the body’s cells on the one hand will absorb less glucose and on the other will be able to easily convert the ingested sugars into fuel for the body. Cinnamon is well known not only as a spice but also for its ability to keep blood sugar levels low: it can inhibit various pancreatic enzymes that digest starch, malt and sucrose (such as alpha-amylase, maltase, and intestinal sucrase). In this way, the sugars and starches introduced with the meal are not digested, slowing down the absorption of glucose into the blood. Chromium contributes to the maintenance of normal blood glucose levels and regular macronutrient metabolism; its picolinate form is more easily absorbed than other forms, supporting the goal of Insulomin-R: improving the vehicle and utilization of the carbohydrates we ingest, both in the muscle building and weight loss phases.

Scientific references

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Rochette L, Ghibu S, Muresan A, Vergely C. Alpha-lipoic acid: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential in diabetes. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2015 Dec;93(12):1021-7. doi: 10.1139/cjpp-2014-0353. Epub 2015 Sep 25. PMID: 26406389.

Yin J, Xing H, Ye J. Efficacy of berberine in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Metabolism. 2008 May;57(5):712-7. doi: 10.1016/j.metabol.2008.01.013. PMID: 18442638; PMCID: PMC2410097.

Baska A, Leis K, Gałązka P. Berberine in the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus: A Review. Endocr Metab Immune Disorder Drug Targets. 2021;21(8):1379-1386. doi: 10.2174/1568026620666201022144405. PMID: 33092516.

Costello RB, Dwyer JT, Saldanha L, Bailey RL, Merkel J, Wambogo E. Do Cinnamon Supplements Have a Role in Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes? A Narrative Review. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2016 Nov;116(11):1794-1802. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2016.07.015. Epub 2016 Sep 8. PMID: 27618575; PMCID: PMC5085873.

Leach MJ, Kumar S. Cinnamon for diabetes mellitus. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Sep 12;2012(9):CD007170. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007170.pub2. PMID: 22972104; PMCID: PMC6486047.

Allen RW, Schwartzman E, Baker WL, Coleman CI, Phung OJ. Cinnamon use in type 2 diabetes: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Fam Med. 2013 Sep-Oct;11(5):452-9. doi: 10.1370/afm.1517. PMID: 24019277; PMCID: PMC3767714.

Pothuraju R, Sharma RK, Chagalamarri J, Jangra S, Kumar Kavadi P.A systematic review of Gymnema sylvestre in obesity and diabetes management. J Sci Food Agric. 2014 Mar 30;94(5):834-40. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.6458. Epub 2013 Nov 19. PMID: 24166097.

Tiwari P, Ahmad K, Baig MH. Gymnema sylvestre for Diabetes: From Traditional Herb to Future’s Therapeutic. Curr Pharm Des. 2017;23(11):1667-1676. doi: 10.2174/1381612823666161108162048. PMID: 27834124.