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Metabolic 6X™
®
Designed to support six common health conditions
By Cristiana Paul, MS & Suzanne Copp, MS
THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED FOR THE USE OF PHYSICIANS AND OTHER LICENSED HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS ONLY. THIS INFORMATION
IS INTENDED FOR PHYSICIANS AND OTHER LICENSED HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO USE AS A BASIS FOR DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT TO
RECOMMEND THESE PRODUCTS TO THEIR PATIENTS. THIS MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION IS NOT FOR USE BY CONSUMERS. THE
DIETARY SUPPLEMENT PRODUCTS OFFERED BY DESIGNS FOR HEALTH ARE NOT INTENDED FOR USE BY CONSUMERS AS A MEANS TO CURE, TREAT,
PREVENT, DIAGNOSE, OR MITIGATE ANY DISEASE OR OTHER MEDICAL CONDITION.
Metabolic 6X™ is a combination of glucomannan fiber (1.5 g per
teaspoon) and the fat burner L-carnitine (1 g per teaspoon), in a
pleasant tasting lemonade flavored powder. Glucomannan, the main
component of Metabolic 6X™, is a water-soluble polysaccharide belonging to the class of soluble fibers such as the ones found in fruits,
beans, oats, various seeds (i.e., chia, flax, psyllium), guar and various
other types of gums or alginates (derived from algae). Soluble fibers
have the property of dissolving and swelling up in water to form a
fiber gel. In contrast, insoluble fibers remain as such in the digestive
tract and are only useful for providing bulk, which promotes bowel
movement.
Glucomannan is a naturally occurring fiber component in the Konjac
plant root. This plant is similar to a yam and has been cultivated in
Asia and used for centuries in various traditional cuisines. Due to its
special structure, glucomannan has the ability to bind much more
water than other soluble fibers, forming a gel with a large volume.
For example, one study showed that 1 g of glucomannan was able to
form a 50 g fiber matrix gel, which means that it is capable of binding
water to 50 times its weight.1 Due to this exceptional water adherence property and high viscosity (10X and 100X higher than guar
gum and pectin respectively)2, glucomannan fiber has the potential to
generate stronger physiological effects than any other known natural
soluble fiber.
Benefits of soluble fibers derived from oat and psyllium are well
known in the US and have been granted FDA approval for cholesterol-lowering claims.3 Glucomannan fiber does not have such official recognition, and this may simply be due to the fact that it is
not as well known in the US, since it was mostly studied and used
in Asia. However, glucomannan has been researched for the past 30
years with outstanding results and it is quite possible that it may have
similar, and most likely higher, efficacy than other commonly known
soluble fibers.
The metabolic impact
Glucomannan reduces the metabolic impact of a meal when ingested
with water prior to or along with the meal. This occurs by slowing
down the digestion and absorption of the nutrients provided by that
particular meal. In addition, glucomannan slows down the post-meal
rise in blood sugar and as a consequence it reduces the subsequent
insulin response.
Glucomannan supports healthy weight loss
Glucomannan has been shown to support healthy weight loss and
weight management, and may reduce weight gain.4 The research review “Glucomannan and Obesity” found that, “At doses of 2-4 g
per day, glucomannan was well-tolerated and resulted in significant
weight loss in overweight and obese individuals.”1
Metabolic 6X™ may support:
•
Improvement of Body Composition: may support
weight maintenance/reduce weight gain
•
Appetite Control: enhances and prolongs pre- and
post- meal satiety (feeling of fullness)
•
Glucose Metabolism: may reduce excessive postmeal blood glucose (sugar) and insulin levels
•
Lipid Metabolism: may reduce total cholesterol and
triglycerides
•
Intestinal Health and Regularity: acts as a prebiotic
(food for good bacteria) and bulk-forming agent
•
Healthy Blood Pressure: possibly due to reduced
insulin (insulin increases sodium retention, which expands blood volume)
Glucomannan may be useful for two types of dieters:
• Those who observe a calorically-restricted regimen, which may
include protein shakes as meal replacements. In this case, glucomannan may enhance the feeling of fullness after meals (satiety).
•
Those who have a difficult time controlling carbohydrate intake
and portions, especially when choosing highly refined/high glycemic starches and/or sugars. In this case, glucomannan may
enhance the feeling of fullness before the meal, thus helping the
dieter eat less at that particular meal. It may also enhance the
feeling of fullness after meals and delay the hunger signal for the
next meal. Glucomannan may also reduce the total calories absorbed. According to research, glucomannan’s beneficial effects
stem not only from its promotion of satiety but also through
fecal energy loss.1
Reducing the insulin response
Regardless of the meal composition or dieting strategy, glucomannan
reduces the insulin response after meals.2,5 This is especially beneficial
for proper weight management because insulin impairs fat loss in the
following ways:
1. It suppresses fat release from fat stores by inhibiting the enzyme
hormone-sensitive lipase.
2. It impairs fat burning while favoring glucose burning
3. It favors glucose conversion to fat by stimulating the enzyme
malonyl-CoA.
4. It causes the fat contained in the meal to be deposited in fat
stores right away instead of allowing it to circulate longer in
the blood stream, where it can be used for fuel instead of being
stored. Glucomannan, on the other hand, lowers insulin, which
allows fat to have a better chance to be burned as fuel. This is
especially true with the added inclusion of carnitine.
ZTEC M6X 3/13
Glucomannan supports appetite control by promoting satiety
Detoxification support
Similar to other soluble fibers, glucomannan may reduce appetite
through various mechanisms. The soluble fiber gel formed from glucomannan occupies volume in the stomach and intestinal tract and
displaces foods that may be very calorie-rich. As a result, the following events may occur to help appetite control:
Glucomannan may be beneficial for proper detoxification because, as
with any other soluble fiber, it can be useful in helping to enhance the
binding and excretion of:
•
•
Enhanced secretion of the satiety signal CCK (cholecystokinin),
which is typically secreted when the stomach expands as it fills
with foods and liquids, but in this case it is filled with glucomannan gel.
Toxins coming in from foods or water. For example it is able to
bind mold toxins (mycotoxins).8
•
Toxins released from body stores that are incorporated into bile.
This makes glucomannan a good adjunct for patients on detoxification programs.
•
Enhanced satiety due to a slower digestion and a prolonged
release in the blood stream of nutrients (i.e., glucose, fat and
amino acids) over many hours after a meal. This may extend the
time until hunger triggers the desire for the next snack or meal.
•
•
Reduced risk of rebound hypoglycemia because it slows down
post-meal blood glucose absorption, thus lowering blood glucose peak, which in turn prevents spikes in insulin response.
Unwanted byproducts of metabolism. Glucomannan was shown
to reduce the fecal beta-glucuronidase enzyme activity9, thus
supporting the proper elimination of various hormonal metabolites, including estrogen. This in turn may result in a protective
effect against cancer risk.
Glucomannan may also reduce weight gain during periods of eating
excess calories. This may be achieved by supporting appetite control
and reducing the post-meal insulin response. If insulin is high after
meals, it favors fat storage.
Glucomannan may improve blood lipid metabolism
A meta analysis of glucomannan’s effect on blood lipids found that
the use of this fiber significantly lowered total cholesterol (-19.28 mg/
dL), LDL cholesterol (-15.99 mg/dL), and triglycerides (-11.08 mg/
dL).6
Glucomannan may support reduced blood levels of cholesterol and
triglycerides through various mechanisms:
•
It binds some of the cholesterol found in foods and reduces its
absorption.
•
It binds some bile, which eventually leads to a reduction of serum cholesterol. (This phenomenon is due to the fact that the
liver has to extract more cholesterol from the blood stream in
order to synthesize new bile because bile recycling is impaired
by glucomannan.) One study found that bile excretion was increased by 18% due to glucomannan supplementation.7 This
may also be due to lowered insulin levels, since insulin is known
to inhibit the conversion of cholesterol to bile.2
•
It modulates liver metabolism through the short-chain fatty acids
produced by intestinal bacteria after processing glucomannan.
•
Triglycerides and cholesterol synthesis may be reduced as a result
of lowered insulin levels.
Why include Carnitine?
Carnitine is included in Metabolic 6X™ (1 g per teaspoon) as it enhances the triglyceride-lowering and fat-loss effects of glucomannan
by supporting fat transport into the mitochondria, where it is burned
for energy. See our technical sheet on carnitine for a detailed review of
its benefits for weight loss, blood lipid modulation and cardiovascular
support. In addition, carnitine’s natural tartness enhances the pleasant lemonade flavor of Metabolic 6X™.
How to Use
Take 1 tsp. before meals with 8-12 oz. of water; afterwards drink
an additional 10-12 oz. of water. Ideally Metabolic 6X™ should be
taken 20 minutes before meals in order to have the maximum effect
on appetite, however it is still beneficial if taken during or right after
a meal as it will blend with the meal and will still exert its beneficial
properties.
This product should be taken 1-2 hours before or after medications.
Metabolic 6X™ may be mixed with PaleoFiber™ powder, which adds
a variety of soluble and insoluble fibers and may be highly beneficial
for those consuming low fiber diets.
MagCitrate Powder may be added to Metabolic 6X™ to aid in constipation relief.
Metabolic 6X™ is an ideal compliment for anyone following a Paleo
diet, as the original diet of the Paleolithic era contained significant
amounts of fiber, estimated to be around 50 g per day.
Intestinal Health
Glucomannan supports the health of the gastrointestinal lining, the
quantity of friendly bacteria, and bowel regularity by:
•
Functioning as a prebiotic (providing food for the colonic flora),
which in turn has numerous health benefits, such as immune
support, vitamin synthesis and inhibition of other potentially
pathogenic microbes
•
Lowering intestinal pH, which creates an unfavorable environment for yeast and opportunistic and pathogenic bacteria
•
Contributing to stool bulk, thus supporting peristaltic motion
for proper elimination – beneficial for relieving constipation
•
Producing short-chain fatty acids which are used as fuel by the
cells of the intestinal lining, thus supporting their health
For a list of references cited in this document, click the
related research link on the product landing pages at
www.catalog.designsforhealth.com
To contact Designs for Health, please call us at
(800) 847-8302, or visit us on the web at
www.designsforhealth.com