Phaseolamin product research for weight loss

 Kidney beans, Phaseolus vulgaris (also called kintoki beans) contain an inhibitor of alpha-amylase, which has been named phaseolamin. Alpha-amylase is an enzyme that helps the breakdown of starches. Many dietary supplements containing starch blockers are being promoted as a way to reduce carbohydrate-derived calories by interfering with alpha-amylase, the digestive enzyme responsible for conversion of complex carbohydrates to simple absorbable sugars. How effective are phaseolamin pills for weight loss?

Phaseolamin may reduce the rate or thoroughness of starches such as potatoes, pasta, bread, etc. from being broken down in the digestive tract into sugars. Whether supplements of phaseolamin produce weight loss in humans is not clear at this time. We are not aware of any specific published research with phaseolamin in humans that has evaluated the effectiveness of this substance in long term weight loss.

Phaseolus vulgaris amylase inhibitor may reduce blood sugar
White bean amylase inhibitor administered orally reduces glycaemia in type 2 diabetic rats.
Br J Nutr. 2006 Sep;96(3):539-44. Dpto. de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Extremadura, Apartado de Correos 108, 06071 Badajoz, Spain.
A purified pancreatic alpha-amylase inhibitor (alpha-AI) from white beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) was administered orally for 22 days to non-diabetic and type 2 diabetic male Wistar rats. Alpha-AI significantly reduced glycaemia in both the non diabetic and diabetic animals and reduced the intake of food and water, and normalized the elevated disaccharidase levels of the diabetic rats.

Phaseolamin Summary
At this point we are not ready to recommend the use of phaseolamin since we have not come across any convincing human trials. Losing weight is difficult and we have to go back to the true and proven methods of caloric restriction and exercise. Surprisingly, there is one diet pill that really works to reduce appetite and lead to weight loss. It is called Diet Rx. Other supplements may provide slight benefit. These include 5-HTP which can reduce appetite and you can buy it at the link provided. Some people find green tea extract, hoodia, and acetyl-l-carnitine may also suppress appetite.

Phaseolamin safety
Toxicity studies of Blockal, a dietary supplement containing Phase 2 Starch Neutralizer (Phase 2), a standardized extract of the common white kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris).
Int J Toxicol. 2006 Sep-Oct;25(5):361-71. Chokshi D. Pharmachem Laboratories, Inc., Kearny, New Jersey 07032, USA.
The present paper reports the findings of single- and multiple-dose (4-week) oral toxicity studies in rats of the marketed dietary supplement Blockal. Blockal contains as its main ingredient Phase 2 Starch Neutralizer (Phase 2 or Phaseolamin 2250), a standardized extract derived from the common white kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) that has been shown to have alpha-amylase-inhibiting activity. The Blockal acute oral LD50 exceeded the highest dose tested (3 g/kg body weight [bw]), which provided a single dose of 1668 mg/kg bw of Phase 2 white kidney bean extract. The no-observed-effect level (NOEL) seen in the 4-week study was equivalent to the highest Blockal dose tested (2 g/kg bw/day), which provided 1112 mg/kg/day of Phase 2 white kidney bean extract. The results of these studies support and are consistent with the safety of the marketed dietary supplement Blockal, and indirectly, the safety of its main ingredient, Phase 2 Starch Neutralizer (Phase 2 or Phaseolamin 2250).

Phaseolamin Research Update
Effects of decreasing intraluminal amylase activity on starch digestion and postprandial gastrointestinal function in humans.
Layer P,. Gastroenterology. 1986 Jul;91(1):41-8.
We used an amylase inhibitor preparation that markedly improves postprandial carbohydrate tolerance in humans to investigate the effects of decreased intraluminal amylase activity on digestion of starch and postprandial gastrointestinal and hormonal responses. Four fasting volunteers were intubated with an oroileal tube to obtain duodenal, jejunal, and terminal ileal samples. After intubation, subjects ingested 50 g of rice starch given with placebo; on the second day, starch was given with the amylase inhibitor. Compared with placebo, the amylase inhibitor significantly (p less than 0.05) reduced duodenal, jejunal, and ileal intraluminal amylase activity by more than 95% for 1-2 h; increased postprandial delivery of total carbohydrate (glucose polymers in particular) to the distal small bowel; increased breath hydrogen concentrations; decreased intestinal water absorption and increased distal intestinal volume delivery to the distal bowel; shortened duodenoileal transit time but doubled postprandial gastric emptying time; reduced the early postprandial plasma glucose rise by 85% and eliminated the late postprandial glucose fall to below fasting levels; and abolished postprandial plasma concentrations of insulin, C-peptide, and gastric inhibitory polypeptide. Postprandial trypsin output was not influenced. We conclude that more than 95% inhibition of amylase reduces dietary starch digestion within the small intestine and uptake of dietary starch from the small intestine, markedly decreases postprandial release of insulin and gastric inhibitory polypeptide, and may alter postprandial upper gastrointestinal motor function.

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