How Does Gymnema Work?
Appetite Suppression
The gymnema plant contains various compounds, including acidic glycosides and anthraquinones, with the primary active component being gymnemic acid, found in the leaves and roots. Gymnemic acids inhibit sweetness, meaning that chewing gymnema leaves reduces the taste of sugar, affecting both natural and artificial sweeteners. This effect suggests gymnema may help suppress appetite.
A study in Physiology & Behavior tested gymnema on average-weight fasting individuals. Those who took gymnema an hour before being offered food consumed less than those who did not.
Blocks Sugar Absorption
During digestion, gymnemic acids have a sugar-blocking property. A South Korean study on lab rats given gymnema supplements showed reduced sugar absorption. Structurally similar to glucose, gymnemic acids behave like glucose in the intestine. When gymnemic acids bind to intestinal receptors, they prevent glucose from being absorbed, balancing blood sugar and promoting lean body mass by reducing the amount of sugar stored as fat.
Nutritional Support for Diabetics
Evidence supports gymnema’s historical use as a diabetic therapy due to its ability to promote normal blood sugar levels and positively affect insulin production. Researchers at the Postgraduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences in Madras, India, found that gymnema supplementation increased insulin levels, possibly due to pancreatic cell regeneration.
A 2012 study at King’s College in London showed gymnema stimulated insulin secretion in both mice and humans. Additionally, a 2009 study at Holy Cross College in Tamil Nadu, India, published in Phytomedicine, found gymnema leaf effective in lowering blood sugar and lipid levels in lab rats.
A study titled “Antidiabetic effect of a leaf extract from Gymnema sylvestre in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients” documented twenty-two patients with type-2 diabetes taking oral diabetic medication. Over 18-20 months, these patients were given 400 mg of gymnema daily. By the end, sixteen patients reduced their traditional medications, and five stopped taking them altogether.
Can Gymnema Help With Weight Loss?
A 2012 study by researchers at the Department of Biology at Sri Venkateswara University concluded that gymnema could aid weight loss. Over eight weeks, obese rats, induced by a high-fat diet, were given gymnema extract. By the study’s end, the rats showed decreased body weight and food consumption. Surprisingly, their “bad cholesterol” levels also fell. These results support gymnema’s use in traditional medicine and suggest its potential as a therapy for managing blood lipid levels.
Gymnema is commonly available in capsule form, though powders and teas are also options. When choosing a gymnema supplement, ensure it contains no fillers, binders, or excipients.
Despite gymnema’s sugar-blocking mechanism, it’s crucial to maintain a healthy, balanced diet and regular exercise. As part of a comprehensive weight management strategy, gymnema may offer significant benefits.
