Weight management continues to be a leading priority for health-conscious consumers seeking to look and feel good.
It is increasingly viewed as something that is entwined with the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle. In response, social media platforms are flooded with posts on weight management strategies and hacks, mainly by health and fitness savvy influencers, celebrities as well as wellness experts.
Weight management recommendations have evolved over the decades beyond the traditional methods of diet and exercise. Among some of the most popular weight loss trends in 2023, intermittent fasting was the most popular specific diet, followed by plant-based, gluten-free, lactose-free, and detox.1 Interest in natural weight loss solutions are also seeing engagement on social media.2
“Adding lemon to coffee or taking green coffee or berberine supplements are just some of the plethora of other non-diet suggestions being promoted,” says Karin Linnewiel Hermoni, PhD, an expert in nutrition and wellness.
“A particularly popular option today is the use of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) injections, which help regulate blood sugar and thus control appetite.”
Metabolaid®, an advanced botanical formulation designed to support healthy metabolism and weight management, is not a new player in the dynamic weight control arena. Crafted by nutraceutical innovators Monteloeder, a subsidiary of SUANNUTRA, the polyphenol-rich composition is based on the company’s flagship ingredient lemon verbena extract combined with hibiscus.
20 years and 10 studies later
This composition is the result of extensive collaborative research, supported by an EU's funding programme for research and innovation (H2020 project). It builds on 20 years of focused research on lemon verbena, spanning 20 years and encompasses 10 peer-reviewed studies that assess its contributions to various facets of metabolic health and weight control.
Metabolaid’s ability to achieve optimal weight has been rigorously studied and endorsed in eight clinical trials, both with and without diet and exercise in more than 450 participants. One of the studies published in the journal Foods in January 2020 demonstrated noteworthy contributions to improved weight management and metabolic fitness in the absence of any diet, highlighting the potential of benefits of the ingredient as part of a comprehensive weight management strategy.3
The double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical study led by Javier Marhuenda PhD enrolled 84 sedentary yet healthy adults. Participants took a single 500mg capsule of Metabolaid or a placebo daily for 12 weeks and were instructed to follow their regular diets which they recorded in food consumption diaries. The Metabolaid group experienced an 2kg drop in body weight by the end of the study. This coincided with decreases of almost 7% body fat and 7.5% belly fat as well as reduced Body Mass Index (BMI).
“Metabolaid was carefully designed to support consumers on their journey to achieving their weight goals, a journey that for many is anything but smooth,” says Maria Ángeles Gutiérrez Montero, Marketing Director at SUANNUTRA.
“Metabolaid can empower consumers to ride the challenges of dieting and sticking to diet routines by giving them that additional support naturally. Metabolaid was crafted and tested over many years to give a meaningful and holistic solution to this relentless challenge.”
Even more interesting, a combination of diet (isocaloric, 2200kcal) and Metabolaid supplementation over a two-month span resulted in an average weight loss of 4kg and a 6cm reduction in waistline, as demonstrated in two previous clinical trials involving 100 volunteers.4
With over 20 years of expertise, Monteloeder by SUANNUTRA has been at the forefront of exploring the properties and science of lemon verbena. Leading the innovative Vera Hub Project, Monteloeder integrates an ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) approach into its work.
As a member of the American Botanical Council and a supporter of lemon verbena through its Adopt an Herb program in the US, Monteloeder is dedicated to advancing botanical research.
Monteloeder’s proprietary formulation includes lemon verbena leaf extract, standardized to a minimum of 25% verbascosides and hibiscus extract, standardized to 10% anthocyanins. Using cutting-edge extraction techniques, Monteloeder ensured that these botanicals achieved optimal levels of active compounds.
Clinical research conducted in recent years has identified several mechanisms by which this botanical combination positively influences weight management and support healthy metabolism.5
A key mechanism is Metabolaid’s ability to synergistically activate the energy sensor adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase pathway, known as AMPK. This pathway acts as a cellular sensor which helps generate energy by burning fat and consuming sugar while reducing fat storage and blood sugar levels. Gutiérrez Montero reveals that this was by design.6
In the early 2000s, Monteloeder set out on an innovative mission to unlock the potential of botanicals that can specifically contribute to metabolic health. With the support of H2020 funding, this visionary project led to the discovery of Metabolaid.
One of the studies showed a six-fold increase in AMPK activation in mice given Metabolaid: “Evidence from our research shows that the combination of hibiscus and lemon verbena extracts has a synergistic effect on AMPK activation, increasing it over six-fold that of the individual extracts.”6
A natural GLP-1 stimulator
Metabolaid also boosts GLP-1 expression, which is a hormone that helps control appetite and balance blood sugar. GLP-1 reduces appetite by slowing down food digestion making you feel full longer. Clinical trials have shown that Metabolaid may support increased GLP-1 secretion by approximately 13% compared to a placebo following a meal.7
The increased GLP-1 secretion arises a 55% compared to baseline after a two-month period. In this 8-week trial, Metabolaid supplementation also correlated with reduced caloric intake.7 This was posited to be linked to its role in keeping the hunger hormone ghrelin in check for four hours as presented in blood samples.
In this 8-week trial, Metabolaid supplementation also correlated with reduced caloric intake. This was posited to be linked to its role in keeping the hunger hormone ghrelin in check for four hours as presented in blood samples.
“Restricted food intake and subsequent weight loss result in a mismatch between nutrient intake and energy expenditure, technically known as the 'energy gap,' or colloquially referred to as the rebound or yo-yo effect” explains Mark JS Miller, PhD, MBA, FACN, CNS, President of Kaiviti Consulting at LLC.
“In response, the brain triggers hormonal changes to compensate, releasing appetite-stimulating hormones to increase hunger while reducing energy expenditure. This can contribute to the challenges of dieting.
Metabolaid is designed to support weight management by promoting appetite-suppressive hormones like GLP-1 and leptin, while reducing hunger-stimulating hormones such as ghrelin. By helping to restore balance between hunger and energy, Metabolaid may aid in mitigating the difficulties of dieting and the common issue of rebound weight gain during calorie restriction.”
Weight management and beyond
Further research has indicated that the polyphenolic components of Metabolaid may positively influence the gut microbiome. An invitro assessment suggests that Metabolaid’s composition of anthocyanins, verbascosides and hibiscus acid are rapidly metabolized by the gut microbiota into active phenolic metabolites.5
In return polyphenols and their metabolites may help modulate the microbiome toward increased production of butyric acid and other short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) which are renowned for their role in maintaining the integrity of the gut lining.
Moreover, it may promote gut friendly bacterial gut populations like Blautia, Prevotella and Akkermansia which have been linked to positive weight management outcomes.
“The connection between well balanced microflora and better weight control has been increasingly put in the spotlight over the last decade. Our findings suggest another potential pathway for Metabolaid’s weight management activity, targeting key bacteria linked to weight, and insulin sensitivity. These results call for further investigation in clinical settings,” adds Miller.
Beyond improving anthropometric measurements, results of several studies have also noted the metabolic perks of consuming Metabolaid on a daily basis. A clinical trial highlights its contribution to maintaining healthy blood pressure levels in the normal range. Others have endorsed its role in balancing cholesterol and blood sugar levels.8,9,10,11
“Excess body fat, particularly around the abdominal area, is often linked to cardiovascular health risks and can impact metabolic fitness. True to its name, the results of the clinical trials have demonstrated the multifaced abilities of Metabolaid on weight management and metabolic functions,” says Montero.
"These attributes make it a complete solution that can help consumers achieve their weight goals in a way that is also supportive of their overall wellness goals and preserves muscle mass which can decrease with rapid weight loss. We understand the personal nature of the weight management journey and are here to be the supportive partner,” concludes Montero.
References
1. Innova Market Insights. Weight Loss Supplements and Personalized Approaches for Weight Management.
2. Innova Market Insights. Weight Loss Trends on Social Media Driven by Ozempic and Natural Alternatives.
3. Herranz-López, M.; et al. Sci. Rep. 2019, 9, 2999. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-39159-5
4. Lee, Y.S.; et al. Nutrients 2018, 10, 1204. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30200432/
5. Marhuenda, J.; et al. Foods 2020, 9, 55, Erratum in Foods 2020, 9, 279. https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/9/3/279
6. Marhuenda, J.; et al. Molecules 2021, 26, 1783. https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/6/1783
7. Boix-Castejon, M.; et al. J. Funct. Foods 2021, 84, 104583. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464621002322
8. Serna, A.; et al. Eur. J. Nutr. 2022, 61, 825–841. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8854308/
9. Martínez-Rodríguez, A.; et al. Sensors 2022, 22,768. https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/3/768
10. Silva, M.; et al. Monit. Phenolic Metab. J. Funct. Foods 2022, 91, 105016. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S175646462200086X
11. Martínez-Rodríguez, A.; et al. Appl. Sci. 2024, 14, 3882. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/9/3882
