A new clinical study confirms positive effects of Portusana, an extract of the herb purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.), on blood sugar levels in adults with Type 2 Diabetes.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of efficacy and safety of purslane extract in controlling blood glucose levels was published this spring in the Journal of Medicinal Foods by Wainstein, et al.1. The clinical trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of purslane extract in improving glucose control, blood pressure, and lipid profile in adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Sixty-three subjects received either 180 mg/day or matching placebo for a period or 12 weeks.
The glucose homeostasis was assessed by measuring Hb1Ac levels, a long-term marker for blood glucose control and which depend on the blood glucose concentration and reflect the average glucose levels over the prior two to three months. The findings show that Frutarom’s purslane extract is effective in improving blood glucose control in Type 2 diabetic patients, as demonstrated by the reduction in HbA1c. After 12 weeks of treatment, subjects experienced significant HbA1c reduction.
“With regards to the staggering statistics on diabetes presented by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the World Health Day, Portusana’s study results are highly promising,” says Rudy Simons Ph.D., product manager for Frutarom Health BU. The WHO report revealed a dramatic increase from 108 million adult cases of diabetes in 1980 (4.7% of the global population) to 422 million in 2014 (8.5% of the population). Unhealthy lifestyles, as well as an unbalanced diet and lack of exercise, are considered the primary reasons for this alarming increase.
Portusana is an herbal extract made from the common plant purslane, Portulaca oleracea, an herb with long traditional use as both food and medicine in the Mediterranean region. Scientists at Frutarom derive the Portusana extract from the highest quality purslane, concentrating its active compounds. “We control the quality of Portusana throughout its manufacturing process, from the raw material sourcing to the final product,” explains Simons. “By using our proprietary EFLA® HyperPure technology during the manufacturing process, we also ensure the compliance of Portusana with the new 2015/1933 PAH regulation for maximum levels of PAHs in food supplements.”
The outcome of this study confirms earlier findings of a previous, open-application trial demonstrating Frutarom’s purslane herb extract for short- and long-term support for the control of blood glucose levels as evidenced by the blood glucose marker HbA1c.
“In the light of the increasing concerns over the global rise of diabetes, this recent publication supports the findings that Frutarom’s purslane herb extract fits perfectly in a healthy diet for those needing to control and maintain healthy glucose levels,” Simons emphasises. “It requires a very small dosage—180mg per day—and has a very mild taste.”
1. Wainstein, et al. Purslane Extract and Glucose Homeostasis in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial of Efficacy and Safety. Journal of medicinal food 19(2), 2016: 133-140.
