Behind The Research: 'This is a new approach for cutting risks associated with metabolic dysfunction'

When it comes to managing blood sugar levels and supporting overall metabolic health, finding natural solutions that work effectively can make a world of difference. 

Our latest article in our ‘Behind The Research’ series, we revisit the CurraNZ study that showed its potential for reducing risk factors associated with metabolic dysfunction, which affects one in four adults in the UK and one in three in the US. 

The gold-standard, peer-reviewed, published paper in question:

Short‑term, but not acute, intake of New Zealand blackcurrant extract improves insulin sensitivity and free‑living postprandial glucose excursions in individuals with overweight or obesity, was published in the European Journal of Nutrition in 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-020-02329-7

About the study:

Anthocyanins, the plant pigments found in fruits and vegetables and concentrated in CurraNZ, show promise for their potential to regulate glucose metabolism, improve insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation.

The purpose was to assess whether one dose, or a week’s intake of CurraNZ could improve glycaemic responses in 25 overweight, sedentary adults.

After taking CurraNZ, or placebo, for 7 days, participants were fed a high-carbohydrate, high-fat liquid meal on day 8 and measured for post-meal sugar spikes, insulin responses and sensitivity and inflammation.

The dose:

2 capsules (600mg) of CurraNZ blackcurrant extract, (8 days).

What we found:

-       Inflammation reduced by 24%

-       Insulin sensitivity improved 22%

-       Post-meal sugar spikes reduced by 9%

-       Effects occurred after the longer intake, but not one dose

Why was this meaningful?

Metabolic dysfunction is a significant problem in the UK due to its increasing prevalence, often leading to Type 2 Diabetes. It’s often linked to unhealthy lifestyles, an aging population and rising obesity rates, leading to serious long-term health complications.

Strategies to tackle the problem involve expensive weight-loss injections, such as Ozempic, or exercise and diet programs, which have poor adherence and long-term success rates.

Based on this pilot trial, CurraNZ could be a fast-acting nutritional intervention that is affordable, natural and requires very little effort.

What the scientists said about the findings:

Dr Sam Shepherd (left), who led the study at John Moores Liverpool University, says: “It’s an exciting finding because whilst the population group we studied were inactive and overweight or obese, they weren’t metabolically unhealthy.

“Because we have shown a positive effect in this population, then when you move up the spectrum of disease towards Type 2 Diabetes, we could expect the effects of New Zealand blackcurrant (CurraNZ) to potentially be even greater.

“We know that exercise and specific diets can improve insulin sensitivity and reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes, and CurraNZ provides an additional approach.

“The big difference is its implementation, as unlike exercise and diet, taking two blackcurrant capsules a day doesn’t require a lot of effort from the user.

“The additional benefits for fat oxidation and blood flow are all linked to an improvement in insulin sensitivity.

“We’re now starting to build a picture of how New Zealand blackcurrant anthocyanin extract is working to improve health. We’ve demonstrated it can improve whole body insulin sensitivity and further studies will look at whether this is related to improved fat oxidation, or blood flow, or something else.

“For now, what we do know is that the New Zealand blackcurrant anthocyanin extract, is great news for helping to cut the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, improving metabolic and glycaemic responses, as well as cardiovascular function.”