The Effect of Green Coffee Extract on Blood Glucose Homeostasis in Healthy Adults

The Effect of Green Coffee Extract With Alpha-lipoic Acid or Dihydroberberine on Blood Glucose Homeostasis in Healthy Adults

Green coffee extract (GCE) supplementation has been shown to induce favourable health benefits on glucose metabolism and weight management. Previous literature suggests that the benefits of GCE are due to the high bioavailability of chlorogenic acid (CGA) which is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties but is destroyed during the bean roasting process used to make coffee in Western societies. While some studies examining chronic and high-dose GCE supplementation (4-12 weeks) report beneficial effects on glucose handling and reductions in body mass following supplementation, comparably less is known about the effect of acute (single dose) GCE supplementation. The purpose of the current study is to determine the impact of acute supplementation of GCE on blood sugar levels following consumption of a carbohydrate drink in healthy adults. A secondary objective is to evaluate the effect of GCE on insulin levels, other measures of glucose metabolism, and appetite perceptions.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Healthy
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Placebo; Dietary supplement: 200mg GCE +200mg ALA; Dietary supplement: 200mg GCE +400mg ALA; Dietary supplement: 200mg GCE + 200mg DHB

Detailed Description

Green coffee extract (GCE) supplementation has been shown to induce favourable benefits on glucose metabolism and weight management. These effects are attributed to its high chlorogenic acid (CGA) content, recognized for its anti-inflammatory properties. Chronic CGA supplementation (4-12 weeks) has been linked to reduced body mass, waist circumference, fasting glucose, and insulin resistance in both healthy adults and those with metabolic disease. Yet, comparably fewer studies have examined the effects of acute GCE supplementation and yielded inconsistent results, likely owing to variations in study design and participant selection, which limit our understanding of its acute effects.

Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is a cofactor of mitochondrial dehydrogenase complexes and a potent antioxidant that has been implicated in glucose metabolism. ALA increases the translocation of glucose transporter type 4 to cell membranes and improves insulin sensitivity through adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation, both of which facilitate glucose uptake. Furthermore, 300mg of ALA has been shown to improve endothelial function and reduce fasted blood glucose concentrations in clinical populations. Therefore, investigating the effects of a lower ALA dosage, specifically 200mg, compared to 400mg in the acute fed state, as well as whether ALA and GCE can act synergistically to elicit favourable effects on postprandial glucose control requires further investigation in healthy adults.

Berberine, a known AMPK activator, is a natural alkaloid present in various parts (root, stem, fruit, bark) of multiple plants including, in particular, species found in the Coptis, Hydrastis, and Berberis genus. Chronic berberine supplementation (lasting 1 month) resulted in reduced fasting blood glucose, 2-hour postprandial blood glucose levels, and insulin resistance index scores, outperforming standard care alone in individuals with metabolic syndrome, suggesting that berberine may assist with blood glucose regulation in this population. Berberine has low bioavailability (<1%) reported in both animal and human models largely due to poor intestinal absorption and high levels of first-pass removal in the intestines and liver. To overcome this limitation, higher doses of berberine (500-1500mg) are commonly administered, which may lead to gastrointestinal adverse events. Dihydroberberine (DHB), a highly bioavailable form of berberine, has been shown to achieve greater area under the curve as well as peak berberine concentrations when compared to oral ingestion of 500 mg berberine or placebo in humans. However, whether acute DHB supplementation in combination with green coffee extract elicits beneficial effects on postprandial glucose handling in healthy adults has yet to be elucidated.

The purpose of the current study is to determine the impact of acute supplementation of GCE on postprandial glycemia in healthy adults. A secondary objective is to evaluate the effect of GCE on postprandial insulinemia, insulin sensitivity, glucose oxidation and appetite perceptions. The investigators hypothesize that compared to placebo, a 200mg dose of GCE combined with 400 mg alpha-lipoic acid consumed 30 min prior to a 75g oral glucose challenge will 1) lower 2-hour glucose incremental area under the curve (AUC; primary outcome); 2) lower 2-hour insulin incremental AUC and insulin resistance (Matsuda Index); 3) increase rates of glucose oxidation; and 4) lower appetite perceptions. The investigators also hypothesize that the 200 mg dose of GCE combined with 400 mg alpha-lipoic acid will exert effects like, or greater than, the 200 mg dose of GCE with 200 mg of DHB.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 20
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Chris McGlory, PhD.; Phone Number: 75410 6135336000; Email: chris.mcglory@queensu.ca
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Justin Bureau; Phone Number: 9053025443; Email: 18jb67@queensu.ca

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Ontario
    • Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7L 3N6
      • Recruiting
      • Queen's University
      • Contact: Chris McGlory, Ph.D.; Phone Number: 75410 6135336000; Email: chris.mcglory@queensu.ca

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Males and females 18-45 years
• BMI between 18.5-30 kg/m2
• No history of smoking or cardiovascular and metabolic diseases (stroke, hypertension, type II diabetes) or other diseases that could impact the study outcomes
• Weight stable (within ±2kg for 6 months)
• Generally healthy as assessed by medical and physical activity questionnaires
• No oral contraceptive use except for triphasic contraceptives

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any concurrent medical, psychiatric, or orthopedic condition that, subject to investigators' discernment, would negatively affect the subject's ability to comply with the study requirements
• Any history of cardiovascular, neurological, respiratory, skeletal muscle or metabolic disease
• Using medication to manage blood glucose or lipid metabolism
• Bleeding disorders or antiplatelet/ anticoagulation therapy
• Currently using (or use within the last 3 months) monophasic or biphasic oral contraceptives
• Currently supplementing with GCE, ALA, or dihydroberberine
• Any known allergies to green coffee extract, alpha-lipoic acid, dihydroberberine or berberine, or supplementing within the last 3 months
• Currently pregnant or lactating
• Have irregular menstrual cycles (<21 days or >35 days)
• Any form of cancer currently or in the last 5 years
• Are recreational smokers of any form (tobacco or cannabis)
• Use of corticosteroids, testosterone replacement therapy, or any anabolic steroid
• Not willing to consume the 24-hour control diet prior to metabolic trials
• Any current Illness which could interfere with the study (e.g., prolonged diarrhea, regurgitation, etc.)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Placebo; Placebo supplement consisting of microcrystalline cellulose with 5mg magnesium stearate and 5mg silicon dioxide.	Dietary supplement: Placebo; microcrystalline cellulose with 5 mg magnesium stearate and 5 mg silicon dioxide
Experimental: 200mg GCE +200mg ALA; 200mg green coffee extract +200mg alpha-lipoic acid	Dietary supplement: 200mg GCE +200mg ALA; 200mg green coffee extract + 200mg alpha-lipoic acid
Experimental: 200mg GCE +400mg ALA; 200mg green coffee extract +200mg alpha-lipoic acid	Dietary supplement: 200mg GCE +400mg ALA; 200mg green coffee extract + 400mg alpha-lipoic acid
Experimental: 200mg GCE +200mg DHB; 200mg green coffee extract + 200mg dihydroberberine	Dietary supplement: 200mg GCE + 200mg DHB; 200mg green coffee extract + 200mg dihydroberberine

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
2-hour plasma glucose incremental area under the curve	Determination of the total rise in plasma glucose during an oral glucose tolerance test, to be assessed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.	2 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Mean glucose concentration	Mean glucose concentration measured during an oral glucose tolerance test	2 hours
2- hour plasma insulin incremental area under the curve	Determination of the total rise in plasma insulin during an oral glucose tolerance test, to be assessed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.	Aggregate 2 hours during the oral glucose tolerance test
Postprandial glucose oxidation	Measurement of 13C excretion in breath samples using isotope ratio mass spectrometry.	Aggregate 2 hours during the oral glucose tolerance test
Appetite perceptions	"Appetite Visual analog scales" will be used to determine perceptions of hunger, satisfaction, fullness, and prospective food consumption. The maximum values on this scale represent a "Very Strong" appetite perception and the minimum value represents a "Not Strong at All" appetite perception.	-30 minutes, 0 minutes, 60 minutes, 120 minutes, during the oral glucose tolerance test.
Mean insulin concentration	Mean insulin concentration measured during an oral glucose tolerance test	2 hours
Peak glucose concentration	Peak glucose concentration measured during an oral glucose tolerance test	2 hours
Peak insulin concentration	Peak insulin concentration measured during an oral glucose tolerance test	2 hours
Insulin sensitivity	Insulin sensitivity measured via the Matsuda Index during an oral glucose tolerance test	2 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Dr. Chris McGlory, PhD
• Collaborators: Iovate Health Sciences International Inc
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Chris McGlory, Queen's University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 13, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 13, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): November 18, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): December 20, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 13, 2023
• Last Verified: December 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Alpha-Lipoic Acid; Green Coffee Extract; Chlorogenic Acid; Dihydroberberine
• Other Study ID Numbers: 6039146

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No