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Guarana Supplementation
Associated with Reduction
In Metabolic Disorders
Consumption of guarana may reduce metabolic
disorders including hypertension, obesity
and
metabolic syndrome, according to new
research.
The study, published in Phytotherapy Research,
evaluated the associations between the habitual
ingestion of guarana and anthropometric and
biochemical biomarkers of lipid, glucose and
oxidative metabolism, in addition to metabolic disorders.
The researchers, from the Universidade Federal de Santa
Maria, Brazil, found the prevalence of various metabolic
disorders were associated with guarana ingestion in an
elderly population residing in the Amazon Riverine region
of the Maués municipality (Brazil) a geopgraphic area
traditionally invovled in guarana production.
The authors said the results "constitute the first
epidemiological study to suggest a potentially protective
effect of habitual guarana ingestion against metabolic
disorders."
"In general, the results suggest that guarana consumption,
most likely due to the bioactive compounds present in the
beverage, potentially conveys a protective effect against
the metabolic disorders investigated here," said the
research team from the Universidade Federal de Santa
Maria.
"The catechins, caffeine, and other xanthines present
in guarana likely contribute to these results; however,
the exact mechanism of action remains to be elucidated,"
they added.
The guarana plant (Paullinia cupana), known for its
high caffeine content, contains a variety of bioactive
compounds, including tannins, saponins, catechins,
epicatechins, proanthocyanidols.
Experimental models, in addition to in vitro assays have
described several biological effects that guarana shares
with green tea, including high antioxidant activity,
antimicrobial effects and anticarcinogenic properties.
Previous investigations have suggested that guarana
positively affects lipid metabolism, enhances weight loss,
and increases basal energy expenditure.
"The investigation of guarana consumption is important,
in a manner similar to the investigation of other potentially
beneficial foods such as green tea, soybeans and red
wine, in larger population groups," The research was
performed in Maués "because this location is historically
important for guarana production."explained the authors.
"Evidence has suggested that the native Sateré-Maués
people, who live in a native indigenous reserve localized
in Maués, were the first to farm guaraná," they added.
The objective of the new study was to analyse the
association between guarana consumption and the
prevalence of obesity, hypertension, type-2 diabetes and
dyslipidemia in an elderly population living in the Maués
municipality in Brazil.
Study Details
A total of 637 elderly volunteers (aged 60 years or older)
were included in the case-controlled study. The elderly
participants were classified into those who habitually
ingested guarana and a control group of those who had
never ingested guarana, based on self-reported data of previous intake.
They reported that the prevalence of metabolic disorders
was negatively associated with guarana intake.
"The group that consumed guarana showed a lower
prevalence of hypertension, obesity and metabolic
syndrome than the group [who never ingested guarana],"
they said.
Males who habitually ingested guarana were, on average,
found to have lower waist circumferences, and females
in the GI group had lower cholesterol (total and DL-cholesterol) levels than the control
group.
The researchers concluded that the results "indicate
that there is a protective effect associated with habitual
guarana ingestion" They added that the finding that
guarana ingestion may reduce the prevalence of metabolic
disorders is "in concordance with previous results obtained
from experimental models and clinical investigations that
used guarana as a supplement."
However, the researchers warned that due to the cross-
sectional design of the study, "it isnot possible to determine
whether the associations found represent cause-and-effect
relationships."
"We believe that, despite the methodology, the results
described in this study suggest that habitual guarana
ingestion contributes positively to the prevention of
various metabolic disorders in the elderly," they added.
Source: Phytotherapy Research
(Published online)
"Habitual Intake of Guaraná and Metabolic Morbidities:
An Epidemiological Study of an Elderly Amazonian
Population"
Editor's Note: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis
or treatment.
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800 mg Per
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