Delphinol® standardized maqui berry extract significantly lowers blood glucose and improves blood lipid profile in prediabetic individuals in three-month clinical trial.

BACKGROUND Previous research has suggested that supplementation with delphinidin-rich maqui berry extract Delphinol® significantly alters postprandial carbohydrate metabolism and acutely lowers both insulin and glucose at fasting conditions. Additionally, the maqui berry extract affects absorption of glucose, which was attributed by other groups to SGLT1-inhibition. METHODS Because this activity profile suggests promising potential for improving glucose metabolism in prediabetes, we investigated in a three months trial the effects of Delphinol® in 31 subjects, presenting just diagnose, moderate glucose intolerance, measuring HbA1c, glucose tolerance and lipid profile in monthly intervals. RESULTS Average levels of glycosylated hemoglobin decreased from initial 5.65±0.09% (SE) to 5.50±0.08% (SE) (P=0.084) after one month, 5.39±0.08% (SE) (P=0.010) after two months and 5.35±0.08% (SE) (P=0.003) after three months of daily supplementation with 180 mg Delphinol® in the morning. Fasting insulin and glucose were non-significantly lowered. Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) performed in monthly intervals did not result in significant alterations compared to baseline characteristics. Blood lipid measurements showed significant reduction of LDL after three months (P=0.001), VLDL already decrease after one month (P=0.019). VLDL values subsequently raise again showing no statistical difference with the starting condition. HDL increased significantly over baseline during the entire treatment period. Total cholesterol and triglycerides did not present with significant changes. CONCLUSIONS Our findings point to considerable health potentials benefits of Delphinol, particularly related to the improvement of glucose metabolism. Delphinol® was well tolerated and no adverse effects occurred.