Glycemic Impact study
The 21st century has ushered in a wide array of full, low, and non-caloric sweeteners, as well as plant-derived bulk sweeteners comprised mainly of one or more caloric sugars, e.g. sucrose, dextrose, and/or fructose. Examples include relatively unrefined derivatives from sugarcane, coconut palm, and palm trees.
Among the unrefined, non-centrifuged, bulk natural sweeteners, coconut palm sugar (CPS) has generated interest. Despite its name, CPS is not derived from “palm trees” (Borassus flabellifer) but from the sap of coconut palm trees (Cocos nucifera). The sugars profile of CPS is comprised mainly of sucrose (the only sugar in ‘table’ or ’white’ sugar), with notably lesser amounts of fructose and glucose.
A novel natural sweetener, combining the distinctive bulk sweetening properties of certified organic CPS, with extracts of monk fruit and stevia leaf, and natural flavors, has been developed, with the natural high intensity sweeteners incorporated to impart sweetness and reduce the caloric/sugar load per serving
| Sweetener | Caloric | Artificial/Synthetic | Bulk or High Intensity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stevia; stevioides; rebaudiosides | Non-caloric | Natural; processed | High Intensity |
| Monk fruit/Lo Han Guo | Non-caloric | Natural; processed | High Intensity |
| Sucralose | Non-caloric | Synthetic; chlorinated sucrose | High Intensity |
| Aspartame | Non-caloric | Synthetic; chlorinated sucrose | High Intensity |
| Erythriol | Low caloric | Fermentation | Bulk |
| Xylitol/Sorbitol | Mid-caloric | Synthetic; chemically hydrogenated | Bulk |
| D-allulose; Allulose; D-piscose | Very low caloric | Microbial Fermentation | Bulk |
| Cane or beet sugar/”sugar”; sucrose | Caloric | Natural; heavily processed | Bulk |
| Coconut palm sugar; coconut palm nectar | Caloric | Natural; minimally processed | Bulk |
In March 2023 a study has been conducted to determine the glycemic impact of Maddie’s Natural Sweetener, under the supervision of our advisor Anthony Almada. The results from this pilot study showed that ≈ 7.5g (5 servings) of MNS-05 elicited no significant increase in post-beverage blood glucose in eight of ten healthy adults, when added to water as a test beverage.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The subjects consumed a beverage made by stirring 5 portions of MNS in room temperature water.
- Blood samples were taken at regular intervals over the following 2 hours to test for glucose levels.
- The average increase in blood glucose level didn’t exceed 11% of normal baseline levels.
- None of the subjects experienced gastrointestinal distress or any other adverse effects.
- All subjects remarked on the pleasant palatability in water.
Coconut palm sugar (CPS), the predominant constituent in MNS-05, has demonstrated a low glycemic response in prior clinical studies (Henry et al., 2021). The degree of processing of CPS can alter its color, aroma, and flavor, and the ratio of sugars (sucrose, fructose, and glucose), which may alter the glycemic response and blood sugar kinetics. The added benefit of phenolic antioxidants and pigments in CPS (Hebbar et al., 2022) confers distinctive attributes upon this novel sweetener.
MNS05 offers a promising new direction in natural bulk sweeteners, employing the rational use of natural high intensity sweeteners (from Stevia and Monk Fruit), coupled with natural flavors (to “erase” the bitter and metallic notes that mark these two high intensity sweeteners).
This pilot study adds an additional dimension, namely a demonstration of minimal glycemic impact from an amount of MNS-05 that equates to five servings. Thus, it is anticipated that ingestion of 1-2 servings of MNS-05 would have negligible and imperceptible glycemic impact.
Group Average Glycemic Response (MNS-05)
Anthony L. Almada has collaborated on over 55 university-based clinical trials, ranging from ALS to zinc metabolism in osteoarthritis. He has been an invited presenter at the Federal Trade Commission and the National Institutes of Health and has been quoted in the New York Times, Forbes, and Bloomberg.
He co-founded EAS, which introduced creatine monohydrate and evidence-based performance nutrition to most of the world.
He is now serving as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board in Maddie’s Natural Sweetener, Inc.
Anthony L. Almada, MSc, FISSN
