Glucosulin sounds like a diabetes drug but it’s really a weight loss supplement. According to the products website, Glucosulin works by reducing how much you eat as well as slowing the absorption of sugar (glucose) into the blood stream. Sounds interesting but does it work? What I want to do is review the research on the ingredients in Glucosulin and see what we can discover.
Glucosulin research
From what I can gather from the product website – glucosulin.com – the supplement itself appears to have no published peer reviewed research. I say this because the website shows no research on glucusulin itself. Also, when I searched the National Library of Medicine for “Glucosulin” no relevant studies showed up either. Therefore, the only way to understand this product is to look at the research on its ingredients.
Glucosulin Ingredients
- Glucomannan (Konjac Root)
- Sodium Alginate
- Xanthum Gum
- Mulberry Extract
- Gymnema Slyvestre
- Chromium Picolinate
Let’s now review the evidence for each ingredient.
Glucomannan
This is a type of fiber. One of the ways that fiber helps weight loss is by making people feel full. Glucomannan does this also by expanding in size greatly when it comes in contact with water. In this way, glucomannan stretches the stomach, making you feel like you are full. Because of this property, glucomannan tablets should be used with caution because there are several cases where glucomannan tablets swelled in size while in the esophagus.
Glucomannan capsules may have a reduced chance of this happening but to be safe put one in water to see how fast it expands in size. Here is a product that is a glucomannan powder that people can mix with liquids.
There are also a few studies on glucomannan helping weight loss and this is likely one of the main reasons it's included in this product.
While not all studies show glucomannan effective for weight loss, the logic is sound: trick the brain into thinking the stomach is full and people eat less.
Other research suggests that glucomannan can modestly reduce cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and lower blood sugar in diabetics.
Diabetics should remember that glucomannan may interact with their diabetes drugs so run this by your doctor if your a diabetic.
Sodium Alginate (also called Align)
This is derived from seaweed and is an additive used to make foods thicker. Because it is thought to be indigestible, it makes sense that it would be used in a weight loss product. In other words, like glucomannan, it takes up space in the stomach without giving any nutritional calories. Also like glucomannan, Align may also modestly lower cholesterol in some people. I could not locate any published peer reviewed studies that sodium alginate helps weight loss in humans.
Xanthum Gum
This is another type of food additive frequently showing up in salad dressings and ice cream. It is also sometimes used as a laxative. Xanthum gum also has a blood sugar lowering effect and as such may interact with medications for diabetes. There are no published peer reviewed studies that xanthum gum helps weight loss.
Because xanthum gum can be derived from several foods including wheat, soy or corn, those who are sensitive to these foods should contact the company first to determine where their xanthum gum comes from.
Mulberry Extract
is also used as a laxative due to its fiber content. In theory mulberry may lower blood sugar levels and/or interact with diabetic medications. There are no published peer reviewed studies on mulberry helping weight loss.
Gymnema Slyvestre
This ingredient also may lower blood sugar levels and interact with diabetic medications. There is no published peer reviewed research on gymnema slyestre helping weight loss.
Chromium Picolinate
Chromium frequently shows up in weight loss supplements despite a deluge of evidence that it does not work. Because chromium does appear to have a blood sugar lowering effect, it also sometimes is marketed to those with type II diabetes. For more info, also see my review of chromium.
As with other ingredients mentioned, chromium can interact with diabetic medications including insulin and oral medications like glucophage (metformin) .
Glucosulin Weight Loss Summary
Ingredients that may help weight loss
- Glucomannan (Konjac Root)
- Sodium Alginate (in theory)
Ingredients that lower blood sugar
- Glucomannan (Konjac Root)
- Xanthum Gum
- Mulberry Extract 30:1 Ratio
- Gymnema Slyvestre
- Chromium Picolinate
Of all the ingredients in Glucosulin most of the weight loss research is on only one substance – glucomannan. Here is glucomann on Amazon for those who want to compare prices.
Because of a possible significant blood sugar lowering effect (in diabetics especially), I honestly do not like the name, Glucosulin. It sounds like a diabetes drug (which it is not!). The product appears to be at least partially based on the idea that lowering blood sugar causes weight loss – which is not true. Reducing calories causes weight loss. Because of this fact, I come to the conclusion that it is Glucomannan (Konjac Root) that is the active ingredient in Glucosulin.
Who makes Glucosulin?
The product website – Glucosulin.com – does not readily list any company name or contact email or phone number that I can locate by looking at the main page. Upon looking at the bottom of the page, at the “Terms and Conditions” page, I see a reference to “Health Resource.” I assume this may be the company in charge of Glucosulin? According to the Better Business Bureau File Health Research is located at 650 N Rose Dr #136, Placentia, CA 92870. If you Google this address, you'll see it appears to be a shopping center. I dont think this is where they make Glucosulin. The BBB file givies Glucusulin a rating of “F” as of 4/20/14. Check the file for updates as ratings sometimes change quickly.
At the Terms and Conditions page I also found a customer support number of 888-237-7172. Interestingly, when I called this number, the person answered “Colon Flow” another supplement that I have reviewed previously.
The customer service person I spoke with told me that Natural Health Network LLC is the company behind Glucosulin. This company is located at 2500 E Imperial Hwy Ste 201-273, Brea, CA 92821. According to the Google link, this appears to be some type of shopping center . Notice that this is a different address than the BBB listed.
How to contact Glucosulin
In the Terms and Conditions page of Glucosulin.com, they list a customer service number of 888 237 7172. The Better Business Bureau also lists 800 252 3314 as a contact number.
Will Glucosulin Work?
Fiber can help people lose weight. Because glucosulin has glucomannan which is a fiber, it makes sense that this product may work for some people. But will glucamannan work better than other fibers – like those in fruits and vegetables? That is the question people should ask themselves.
Here is Glucosulin and glucomannan powder on Amazon for those who want to compare prices. There are also glucomman capsules for those who don't like the powders.
Buyer Beware
A one month supply of Glucosulin costs about $50 according to the product website. That is a lot of money for a fiber supplement. Compare that to glucoamman which I feel is the active ingredient in tis product. There is a “free 30 trial” available on the Glucosulin website but, if you choose this option, you will automatically be sent a new 60 day supply every 60 days at a cost of $39.98 per bottle. In addition, your credit card will also be charged $ 7.80 for shipping and handling. Also this option does not allow you to return the product if you do not like it. These terms are stated clearly on the Glucosulin website. Here is Glucosulin on Amazon for those who want to compare prices and dont want to deal with the auto-ship program.
What do you think?