(P26-041-25) Impact of the New Zealand Pine Bark Extract (Enzogenol®) on Sucrose Metabolism and Glycaemic Responses in Healthy Adults – A Randomised, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Trial

Objectives: Enzogenol® (50 and 400 mg) has been shown to improve postprandial glucose in healthy humans with oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). An in vitro study also demonstrated that Enzogenol® inhibited digestive enzymes (alpha-amylase, alpha-glucosidase, and dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 (DPP-4)), potentially useful in reducing carbohydrate absorption. This study aims to investigate the inhibitory effects of Enzogenol® on sucrose digestion and glycaemic responses in humans.

Methods: This was a single-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, crossover trial involving healthy adults (n=40 (M:12, F:28), 30.7 years, BMI 23.4 kg/m², HbA1c 32.5 mmol/mol, FBG 4.7 mmol/L). There were three study visits involving the following intervention treatments: placebo (75 g of sucrose powder only), and two doses of Enzogenol® (50 and 400 mg). Each treatment was provided with 75 g of sucrose mixed in 250 mL of water. Blood samples were collected at -10, 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min via a finger prick test. A linear mixed model for repeated measures (SPSS v30, IBM) was applied, and data presented as model-adjusted mean ± SEM.

Results: Compared to placebo (247.5 ± 14.0 mmol/L.min), the iAUC_glucose was significantly reduced with 400 mg Enzogenol® (211.6 ± 13.9 mmol/L.min, p=0.036), but no significant change was detected with 50 mg Enzogenol® (220.8 ± 14.2 mmol/L.min p=0.186). Compared to placebo (9.1 ± 0.2 mmol/L), there was also a significant reduction in glucose peak value with 50 mg but not 400 mg Enzogenol® (8.6 ± 0.2 mmol/L, p=0.016, 8.7 ± 0.2 mmol/L, p=0.093, respectively). There was no dose response between 50 and 400 mg Enzogenol®. Improvements in the glucose indices support the potential inhibition of sucrase enzyme and sucrose digestion by Enzogenol®.

Conclusions: A higher dose of Enzogenol® (400 mg) improved postprandial glycaemic responses, potentially via sucrase inhibition, and may therefore be useful as an adjunct in managing glycaemia in humans.

Funding Sources: The study was sponsored by ENZO Nutraceuticals Limited, New Zealand.