| Glyconutrient is a technical scientific term that is used | | | | For example, various clinical studies with |
| to refer to an individual carbohydrate nutrient. As an | | | | arabinogalactans (AG) extracted from Larch examine |
| example, many bacteria can grow on agar containing | | | | prebiotic effects, immune stimulation and |
| various types of sugars. These sugars would be | | | | immune-enhancing effects[1], increases in total gut |
| considered glyconutrients. More recently, the | | | | anaerobes, including beneficial gastrointestinal bacteria |
| commercially inspired terms Glyconutritionals and | | | | and reduced ammonia levels[2]. |
| glyconutrients, have been used to refer to mixtures of | | | | Amounts advertised as minumum vendor |
| polysaccharides, such as exudate tree gums and high | | | | recommendations, apparently for healthy customers, |
| molecular weight aloe vera extracts, containing | | | | are sometimes substantially lower than actual daily |
| fermentable dietary fiber and plant extracts, as well as | | | | usage amounts reported by other customers as |
| sugars or starch. Polysaccharides are large sugar | | | | necessary to achieve satisfaction, often by a factor of |
| polymers made up of monosaccharide monomers | | | | 8 to 25. Amounts consumed typically depend upon |
| such as glucose, galactose, fucose, fructose, mannose, | | | | individual perception of requirements for improvement, |
| xylose and arabinose. | | | | product cost, financial constraints, formulation and |
| Characteristics The polysaccharide components have | | | | physiological limitations on fiber load. |
| a significant degree of polymerization, often over 100, | | | | Self mixers report 70%-85% savings for high cost |
| with the highest molecular weight polymers well over | | | | commercial formulations. In the US, during 2005, retail |
| 1,0000,000 daltons. Some glyconutrient formulas may | | | | costs of typical "glyconutrient" formulations ranged |
| contain an individual sugar (e.g. glucosamine) or starch | | | | from about $14, self mixed, to over $500 per pound |
| either as a functional food or filler. Other minor content | | | | ($30 - $1200+/kg) depending on source(s), quantity, and |
| such as minerals, protein and peptides may be present | | | | components. |
| from the natural sources. The polysaccharides in | | | | Prebiotics, with a lower degree of polymerization, |
| glyconutrient formulas typically have higher molecular | | | | available under $8/lb for some mail order inulin sources, |
| weight components, monosaccharide structural units | | | | are used both as complementary and as alternative |
| less common in prebiotics, and, possibly, additional | | | | materials to glyconutrient formulas. |
| mechanisms of action over typical prebiotics containing | | | | Relation to the science of glycobiology For some |
| oligosaccharides and shorter polysaccharides. | | | | sources of these formulas, sensationalism, |
| Use as alternative therapy A number of companies | | | | misattributed scientific references and controversial |
| sell formulas labeled as glyconutrients. Also individuals | | | | marketing methods abound. Substantial |
| attempt to empirically optimize formulas for perceived | | | | supplementation with any dietary formula is generally |
| individual performance and to reduce costs. | | | | recommended as a part of a comprehensive |
| Components of various mixtures have included high | | | | nutritional, medical or health plan, not a replacement for |
| molecular weight extracts from aloe vera, high | | | | one. |
| molecular weight arabinogalactan fraction of Larch | | | | The Society for Glycobiology, "a nonprofit scholarly |
| extract, gum arabic (gum acacia), ghatti gum, gum | | | | society devoted to the pursuit of knowledge of glycan |
| tragacanth, oat fiber, fenugreek seed, kelp, Shiitake | | | | structures and functions" has published a disclaimer on |
| mushroom, Reishi mushroom, cordyceps, psyllium husk, | | | | their website addressing "glyconutrients". |
| bovine cartilage powder, xylitol and glucosamine. Many | | | | Some promoters of glyconutritional formulas espouse |
| of these components have long been used in food | | | | a popularized view that some of the polysaccharide |
| processing and health remedies. | | | | components are being materially hydrolyzed and |
| Nutritional and medical sciences have long noted | | | | absorbed as monosaccharides for beneficial use in |
| soluble fiber, including polysaccharides, as largely | | | | human cells. Based on this long unsubstantiated claim |
| undigested in the small intestine. The soluble fibers are | | | | of significant digestion as monosaccharides and the |
| then fermented in the colon into highly beneficial short | | | | popularized notion of "8 essential sugars |
| chain fatty acids, butyrate being especially beneficial. | | | | (monosaccharides)", these promoters further claim |
| Anti-inflamatory benefits are associated with various | | | | physiological connections, broadly not accepted, to the |
| saccharides, including gum acacia and glucosamine. | | | | established science of glycobiology as well as cellular |
| There are claims that current research supports | | | | phenomena such as glycosylation and formation of |
| benefits and mechanisms such as increased beneficial | | | | glycoproteins. These popularized notions have little |
| bacteria (e.g. | | | | support in science and medicine and have no |
| bifidus, lactobacillus) - a prebiotic effect, a decrease in | | | | significantly documented basis. |
| opportunistic pathogens, immune activation and | | | | Nevertheless some "glyconutrients" have been |
| stimulation, increased efficiency of digestion and | | | | associated with health remedies, various forms of |
| absorption of nutrients, decreased circulating free fatty | | | | medicine, special foodstuffs, and food additives for |
| acids that cause cellular insulin resistance, decreased | | | | centuries and even millennia, across cultures, up to the |
| luminal ammonia concentration. | | | | present day. |