'On-the-go innovation': Nestle China’s latest oolong tea contains clinically studied mulberry leaf extract
Each bottle contains 750mg of white mulberry leaf extract, which the company said was clinically proven to “flatten the glucose level”.
The extract used is a proprietary ingredient trademarked Reducose by British life science firm Phynova.
A product under Nestle China's “no sugar botanical tea series” (无糖植物茶系列), it also claims to contain zero fat, zero energy, and no flavourings.
"Glucose management is closely linked with diet management and lifestyle. In China, Nestlé launched different formats that are suitable for different occasions, e.g. milk powder for in-home breakfast or ready-to-drink for out-of-home meal pairing," the company said.
The launch, said to be a convenient format for accompanying meals, further expands Nestle’s glucose management portfolio in China.
"Ready-to-drink (RTD) tea is a sizable category in China with consumer acceptance and established consumption habits. In China, tea products are often consumed during or after meals for refreshment. This aligns with the intended consumption timing of our ready-to-drink product, which contains Reducose."
In March, the company introduced a milk powder that similarly contains Reducose, as well as tryptophan, vitamin B and minerals for improving sleep and supporting glucose management.
The use of mulberry leaf extract is said to reduce glycaemic variation during the night, which could in turn improve sleep quality.
A study published in Nutrients in May reported that the consumption of varying amounts of Reducose – at either 200mg, 225mg, or 250mg – have shown to significantly lower blood glucose and plasma insulin levels as compared to the placebo group.
Nestle China has also launched two other products for managing blood glucose levels.
One of it was a powdered stick sprinkle to be taken 30 minutes before or during meals. The other was a low GI powdered milk also designed for healthy ageing.
Outside of China, Nestle launched a product containing Reducose for post-meal blood glucose levels control. Known as Nutren GlucoSmart, it was launched in Malaysia about two years ago.
So far, there are 15 studies, including clinical and animal studies published on Reducose.
One of the latest findings, reported by Korean researchers, was published on Heliyon in February.
The research consisted of both in vitro and in vivo studies aimed at exploring the mode of action.
The in vitro cell study found that there was a dose-dependent increase in the expression of IRS-2, PPAR-γ, and PDX-1 – all of which are proteins in the insulin signalling pathway and insulin sensitivity.
The in vivo mice study, on the other hand, found that Reducose had significantly reduced fasting blood glucose.
