Glucosulin Weight Loss Supplement Review

Glucosulin sounds like a diabetes drug but it’s really a weight loss supplement. According to the products website, Glucosulin works by reducing how much you eat as well as slowing the absorption of sugar (glucose) into the blood stream.  Let’s now review this product and see what we can discover.

Glucosulin Ingredients

1. Glucomannan (Konjac Root)
2. Sodium Alginate
3. Xanthum Gum
4. Mulberry Extract
5. Gymnema Slyvestre
6. Chromium Picolinate

Let’s now review the evidence for each ingredient.

Glucomannan is a type of fiber. One of the ways that fiber helps weight loss is by making people feel full. Glucomannan does this also by expanding in size greatly when it comes in contact with water. In this way, glucomannan stretches the stomach, making you feel like you are full.  Because of this property, glucomannan tablets should be used with caution because there are several cases where glucomannan tablets swelled in size while in the esophagus.

Glucomannan capsules may have a reduced chance of this happening but to be safe put one in water to see how fast it expands in size.

There are also a few studies on glucomannan helping weight loss and this is likely one of the main reasons it’s included in this product.

While not all studies show glucomannan effective for weight loss, the logic is sound: trick the brain into thinking the stomach is full and people eat less.

Other research suggests that glucomannan can modestly reduce cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and  lower blood sugar in diabetics.

Diabetics should remember that glucomannan may interact with their diabetes drugs so run this by your doctor if your a diabetic.

Sodium Alginate (also called Align) is derived from seaweed and is an additive used to make foods thicker. Because it is thought to be indigestible, it makes sense that it would be used in a weight loss product. In other words, like glucomannan, it takes up space in the stomach without giving any nutritional calories. Also like glucomannan, Align may also modestly lower cholesterol in some people. I could not locate any published peer reviewed studies that sodium alginate helps weight loss in humans.

Xanthum Gum is another type of food additive frequently showing up in salad dressings and ice cream. It is also sometimes used as a laxative.  Xanthum gum also has a blood sugar lowering effect and as such may interact with medications for diabetes. There are no published peer reviewed studies that xanthum gum helps weight loss.

Because xanthum gum can be derived from several foods including wheat, soy or corn, those who are sensitive to these foods should contact the company first to determine where their xanthum gum comes from.

Mulberry Extract is also used as a laxative due to its fiber content. In theory  mulberry may lower blood sugar levels and/or interact with diabetic medications. There are no published peer reviewed studies on mulberry helping weight loss.

Gymnema Slyvestre. This ingredient also may lower blood sugar levels and interact with diabetic medications. There is no published peer reviewed research on gymnema slyestre helping weight loss.

Chromium Picolinate. Chromium frequently shows up in weight loss supplements despite a deluge of evidence that it does not work. Because chromium does appear to have a blood sugar lowering effect, it also sometimes is marketed to those with type II diabetes.

As with other ingredients mentioned, chromium can interact with diabetic medications including insulin and oral medications like glucophage (metformin) .

Glucosulin Weight Loss Summary

Ingredients  that may help weight loss

1. Glucomannan (Konjac Root)
2. Sodium Alginate  (in theory)

Ingredients that lower blood sugar

1. Glucomannan (Konjac Root)
2. Xanthum Gum
3. Mulberry Extract 30:1 Ratio
4. Gymnema Slyvestre
5. Chromium Picolinate

Of all the ingredients in Glucosulin most of the weight loss research is on only one substance – glucomannan.

Because of a possible significant blood sugar lowering effect (in diabetics especially), I honestly do not like the name, Glucosulin. It sounds like a diabetes drug (which it is not!). The product appears to be at least partially based on the idea that lowering blood sugar causes weight loss  – which is not true. Reducing calories causes weight loss. Because of this fact, I come to the conclusion that it is Glucomannan (Konjac Root) that is the active ingredient in Glucosulin.

Will Glucosulin Work?

Fiber can help people lose weight. Because glucosulin has glucomannan which is a fiber, it makes sense that this product may work for some people.  But will glucamannan work better than other fibers – like those in fruits and vegetables? That is the question people should ask themselves.

Buyer Beware

A one month supply of Glucosulin costs about $50 according to the product website. That is a lot of money for a  fiber supplement.  There is a “free 30 trial” available on the Glucosulin website but, if you choose this option, you will automatically be sent a new 60 day supply every 60 days at a cost of $39.98 per bottle. In addition, your credit card will also be charged $ 7.80 for shipping and handling.  Also this option does not allow you to return the product if you do not like it. These terms are stated clearly on the Glucosulin website.

Have you tried Glucosulin? Did it help? Did you notice any side effects?

Tagged as: Glucosulin