Glucomannan from the Konjac root tuber
Glucomannan is a natural product that is extracted from the root tuber of the konjac plant. The name konjac plant comes from the botanical name Amorphophallus konjac and the glucomannan-containing extract from its tubers is called konjac extract. The konjac plant grows in Southeast Asia, where dishes made from the root tuber have been valued for around 1500 years because of their high satiety. In Japan it is called konnyaku, in China jǔruò and in Korea gonyak. The konjac tuber naturally contains around 40% glucomannan, which is built into the cell walls and gives the tuber stability. Glucomannan itself consists of long carbohydrate chains that are indigestible and are therefore considered dietary fiber. The tubers are extracted to obtain the glucomannan. In the finished extract, the glucomannan content is about 80%. [1] [2]
Glucomannan – Effects
The effects of glucomannan have been studied for many years. It has been found that glucomannan container be particularly helpful for modern life. Many of our problems are caused by poor nutrition. Our food often contains too much fat and carbohydrates that are low in fiber. A food supplement with glucomannan container have a positive effect on our nutrient balance.
Many studies have already shown that glucomannan container be useful in the diet of people with diabetes because it stabilizes blood sugar levels so that fluctuations are no longer so extreme. [-3 7] Glucomannan also has beneficial effects on the body as a dietary fiber: it regulates digestion and promotes the growth of healthy intestinal bacteria. [-8 11]
The effect on cholesterol levels has been studied even better. A high cholesterol level in the blood is a risk factor for cardiovascular problems, which, like diabetes, are considered to be a disease of civilization, the frequency of which is increasing sharply due to our poor diet. By lowering cholesterol levels, glucomannan helps reduce the risk of suffering from cardiovascular diseases. This effect has been thoroughly investigated by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and has been found to be proven and useful. Therefore, the following approved health claim applies to glucomannan when taken at a rate of 4 g per day: Glucomannan helps maintain a normal cholesterol level in the blood. [12]
The most important effect of glucomannan is that it container help reduce excess weight. Being overweight is detrimental to the health of all organs and bones and to general well-being. The EFSA and the EU Parliament found this property helpful and important, so they approved the only health claim for glucomannan for reducing body weight for individual substances when taken at a rate of 3 g per day: Glucomannan contributes to weight loss as part of a low-calorie diet. The individual portion must contain at least 1 g of glucomannan. [13]
Mechanism of action
Glucomannan is very filling when combined with water. When it is mixed with a glass of water, it swells up in the stomach. When the stomach is full, the body does not feel hungry and it is easy to eat less and burn excess fat. Since glucomannan is a type of fiber that is not digestible, the satiating effect lasts for a long time. Glucomannan container therefore be the natural and healthy key to the success of a diet. In addition, konjac extract container become an integral part of a healthy diet, as it is on its home continent of Asia. There is a saying in traditional Chinese medicine: To treat an illness, it takes a great doctor, but to maintain health, it takes a true master. Each individual is the master of his own health. [14]
dosage forms
Konjac extract container be used in a particularly wide range of forms and variants. The amount required for the health claim for weight loss is achieved with 3x2 capsules of 500 mg glucomannan per day. Another practical presentation is the end-user-friendly portion stick (active content: 1 g glucomannan), the contents of which are stirred in a glass of water. In this form, the tasteless konjac extract container be individually combined with many other functional ingredients, flavors and aromas. Glucomannan container also be used as an additive to diet shakes as a source of fiber and at the same time contribute the coveted health claim to the product.
Authors
Susanne Kühnl
was Projects and Development Manager at Goerlich Pharma GmbH. She studied food chemistry at the Technical University of Munich and will soon complete her doctorate at the University of Innsbruck on new anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory natural substances.
Technical literature / references:
[1] Botanical Garden of the University of Basel
[2] http://pages.unibas.ch/botgarten/ amorphophallus/index.shtml
[3] Botanical Garden of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
[4] http://www.botgarten.uni-mainz.de/280.php
[5] Magnati et al., 1984
[6] Vuksan et al., 2000
[7] Vita et al., 1992
[8] Hou et al., 1990
[9] Vorster et al., 1985
[10] Marzio et al. 1989
[10] Cummings et al., 2004
[10] Passaretti et al., 1991
[11] Chen et al. 2006
[12] EFSA Journal 2009; 7(9):1258
[13] EFSA Journal 2010; 8(10):1798
[14] Xenius, topic traditional Chinese medicine, a production by AVE on behalf of ZDF in cooperation with ARTE
