The Mediterranean is home to one of the most beneficial diets for cardiovascular health. Its wide variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, beans and healthy fats in the form of olive oil, along with limited intake of red meats, has been clinically tested on numerousin numerous occasions, with significant benefits to prevent chronic disease and increase overall longevity (1, 2). Due to its numerous benefits, it is no wonder that it has been considered on numerous occasions as the best overall diet (3).
Sometimes, following a heart-healthy diet can be challenging, and as we age, it becomes more difficult for our body to maintain a healthy weight and blood pressure levels. To this end, we have developed a botanical-based blend called Metabolaid. It is comprised of lemon verbena leaf and hibiscus calyx extracts, both well-known plants in the Mediterranean that have been used for centuries in the form of teas and beverages for several ailments. The extracts used are highly purified in anthocyanins and phenylpropanoids (mainly verbascoside), which are strong polyphenols with numerous known benefits. We have shown that under the right combination of active compounds, these two extracts present a complementarycomplimentary and synergistic effect in activating AMPK (4), a metabolic switch that induces the body to break down endogenous fat and use it as fuel for the muscles. Several clinical studies have proven that Metabolaid can help lower body weight in overweight and obese individuals, particularly by reducing abdominal fat mass (5-7). These results have been observed even in absence of changes in the diet or level of physical activity, although more relevant results were observed when a healthy diet and regular exercise accompanied product intake.
More recently, we have also elucidated that Metabolaid can contribute to help maintain healthy blood pressure levels. Specifically, two independent clinical studies have been published this year, with slightly hypertensive individuals (8, 9). Both studies assessed blood pressure for 24 hours using the gold-standard in continuous blood pressure monitoring. This technique provides a deeper knowledge of the effect of the ingredient on blood pressure more so than taking a single measurement in the clinic, as is commonly found with other ingredients in the scientific literature.
Both studies revealed similar results; Metabolaid significantly lowers blood pressure starting at two weeks of intake, and maintains this blood pressure level for as long as the product is being taken. Other parameters related to cardiovascular health have also been reported to significantly improve, such as higher nighttime dipper (low levels are known to be a sign of cardiovascular disease risk) and lower pulse pressure (the difference between systolic and diastolic pressure. A high pulse pressure is correlated with blood vessel stiffness). When the results were compared to other studies using different botanical-based ingredients, it was revealed that Metabolaid has an overall superior effect on blood pressure, at a lower dosage.
Metabolaid has been a finalistbeen finalist in several industry awards for the past several years, and last year received two industry awards for Innovation in the Weight Management Category, in the Nutraingredients Awards of Vitafoods USA (10) and the Nutrition Industry Executive (NIE) Awards (11). In the case of the former, the judges stated to be “…swayed by the published clinical studies which could provide for attractive claims to back this polyphenolic ingredient.”
In conclusion, Metabolaid is a unique multi-function blend, based on popular plants of the Mediterranean, that contributes to maintaining a healthy body weight, blood pressure, and heart health parameters.
References:
1. Nordmann AJ et al. Meta-analysis comparing Mediterranean to low-fat diets for modification of cardiovascular risk factors. Am J Med. 2011 Sep;124(9):841-51.
2. Dominguez LJ et al. Impact of Mediterranean Diet on Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases and Longevity. Nutrients. 2021 Jun 12;13(6):2028.
3. https://health.usnews.com/best-diet
4. Lee YS et al. Metabolaid® Combination of Lemon Verbena and Hibiscus Flower Extract Prevents High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity through AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Activation. Nutrients 2018, 10, 1204.
5. Herranz-López et al. Differential effects of a combination of Hibiscus sabdariffa and Lippia citriodora polyphenols in overweight/obese subjects: A randomized controlled trial. Sci Rep. 2019 9, 2999.
6. Boix-Castejón M et al. Hibiscus and lemon verbena polyphenols modulate appetite-related biomarkers in overweight subjects: a randomized controlled trial. Food Funct. 2018 Jun 20;9(6):3173-3184. Erratum in: Food Funct. 2018 Jul 17;9(7):4037.
7. Marhuenda J et al. A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial to Determine the Effectiveness a Polyphenolic Extract (Hibiscus sabdariffa and Lippia citriodora) in the Reduction of Body Fat Mass in Healthy Subjects. Foods 2020, 9, 55. Correction: Foods 2020, 9(1), 55. Foods 2020, 9, 279.
8. Marhuenda J et al. A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial to Determine the Effectiveness of a Polyphenolic Extract (Hibiscus sabdariffa and Lippia citriodora) for Reducing Blood Pressure in Prehypertensive and Type 1 Hypertensive Subjects. Molecules 2021, 26, 1783.
9. Boix-Castejón M et al. Effect of metabolaid® on pre- and stage 1 hypertensive patients: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Functional Foods, 2021 Vol 84, 104583.
10. https://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Article/2020/06/29/NutraIngredients-USA-Awards-2020-Winners-Revealed
11. https://niemagazine.com/nie-awards-2020/
