Special gluten-free amaranth, with preclinical and clinical studies on diabetes and cholesterol
AmaChol® is the amaranth-based functional extract obtained with the exclusive DEFS® technological system which does not use chemical solvents but in this case only water. AmaChol® is indicated for nutraceutical and food formulations with a low glycemic index.

COMPOSITION

AmaChol® is obtained from Amaranthus caudatus, a pseudo-cereal with a high protein content, a unique and well-balanced amino acid profile with 8 essential amino acids and high levels of lysine and methionine. Thanks to the low glycemic index (GI: 35), the high fiber content and the high amount of manganese, AmaChol® represents a good option to regulate blood sugar levels and to correct hyperglycemia as part of an approach healthy nutrition.

Amaranth grain mainly contains unsaturated omega-6 fatty acids (25-62%) and omega-3 fatty acids (0.3-2.2%), squalene, quercetin and phenolic acids with high antioxidant activity. AmaChol®, thanks to the physical-chemical analyzes carried out, has a high mucilage content (23.5%).

AmaChol®
nutritional values per 100g of product
 
Calories (Kcal)258
Calories (KJ)1071
Fats 
of which saturated fatty acids		<0.5
<0.1
Carbohydrates
of which sugars		36.1
2.1
Fibers52.1
Protein2.4
Salt0.93

PROPERTY

Low glycemic index
Significant inhibition of intestinal cholesterol absorption
Gluten-free and suitable for coeliacs
Lactose-free and suitable for those with intolerances
Source of highly digestible proteins
Rich in vitamins, fiber and minerals
With omega-3, omega-6 and squalene
Allergen free
Without preservatives and without additives

ACTIVITY

Hypoglycemic
Hypocholesterolemic
Neuroprotective
Antimicrobial and antiviral
Antidepressant
Anti-inflammatory
Antioxidant
Hepatoprotective

FOOD SAFETY

AmaChol® is clinically tested, with health claims for cholesterol metabolism, as reported in Attachment 1-Botanicals of the Ministerial Decree of August 10, 2018. Amaranth is defined as a “superfood” as it offers high levels of nutrients with beneficial properties for health from a preventive perspective.

USE

AmaChol® can be used both as a single ingredient and in combination with other extracts, to formulate a nutraceutical or food product with a low glycemic index and for cholesterol metabolism, ideal for the preparation of supplements, hot and cold drinks, energy drinks, snacks, bakery products.

AmaChol® is indicated for:

people with diabetes or with insulin resistance due to its low glycemic index
those suffering from celiac disease because it is gluten-free
anemic subjects because it is an excellent source of iron
vegetarians and vegans because it contains an excellent source of vegetable proteins
in the daily diet because it has a high content of easily digestible fibers useful for the well-being of the gastrointestinal system
sportsmen and athletes who are keen to improve their sporting performance

TESTS AND SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE

The beneficial properties of AmaChol® were tested in vivo through an observational clinical study conducted in overweight subjects with glucose intolerance, yielding interesting results in just three months: reduction of post-prandial glycaemia and glycated hemoglobin, significant reduction of cholesterol and especially weight loss and BMI.
The following are the relevant parameters such as cholesterol, glycated hemoglobin and BMI at baseline (T0) and after 90 days of supplementation with amaranth extract (T1).

The analysis carried out on the pre- and post-prandial glycemia trend at baseline (T0) and after 90 days of supplementation with amaranth extract (T1) is interesting, as can be seen in the following graphs:

The quality of AmaChol® has also been confirmed by in vitro preclinical studies of the best Italian universities: AmaChol® has a lower glycemic index than maltodextrin. The results of studies conducted on the product show a significant reduction in insulin secretion of 63.4% from AmaChol® compared to maltodextrin. The results obtained from the experimental tests demonstrated the ability of AmaChol® to significantly inhibit the intestinal absorption of cholesterol by 69% compared to maltodextrin. AmaChol® can significantly decrease the absorption of cholesterol through the intestinal epithelium. AmaChol® represents a valid substitute for maltodextrin in nutraceutical preparations as it can inhibit both the absorption of glucose during a meal and the consequent release of insulin (reduced by 63.4% compared to maltodextrin). The reduced insulin release could represent an advantage in subjects with impaired glucose metabolism (prediabetics or type 2 diabetics) in whom the high blood glucose level first causes insulin hypersecretion, followed by insulin resistance and finally the exhaustion of pancreatic beta cells to release the insulin.

Quantification of insulin release from human pancreatic islets. The pancreatic islets were stimulated with the respective basolateral fractions deriving from the absorption and release of the free glucose present in the different samples after their incubation on Epiintestinal®. The values shown in the graph are the mean±st.dev of 2 experiments performed in duplicate.
*p<0.05 vs. insulin released from maltodextrin+glucose 40mM sample

Determination of the % of fluorescent analogue of cholesterol (BODIPY-cholesterol) absorbed by Epiintestinal® in the presence of maltodextrin or amaranth extract®.
The values shown in the graph are the mean±st.dev of 2 experiments each analyzed in duplicate.

*p<0.05 vs. insulin released from maltodextrin+glucose 40mM sample