I want to share a recent study published in the April 2010 issue of the Alternative Medicine Review on a novel viscous polysaccharide blend called PolyGlycopleX^® (PGX^®). PGX^® is a highly viscous polysaccharide manufactured by reacting glucomannan with other soluble polysaccharides including xanthan gum and brown algae (sodium alginate). The soluble polysaccharides in PGX^® complement each other and have been shown to act synergistically¹ to form strong interactions resulting in an extremely high viscosity, 3-5 times higher than any currently known single polysaccharide. This makes PGX^® the highest viscosity and water-holding capacity of currently known fibers. 
 
As we know, the physiological effects and overall benefits to human health of a soluble fiber are directly proportionate to its viscosity, and volume and viscosity are the basic principles that make this product effective. When PGX^® is mixed with food in the gut, it slows digestion and extends the area for nutrient absorption through the stomach and the small intestine. PGX^®'s capacity to capture and suspend nutrients (such as sugars, fat and carbohydrates) is the key to its physiological benefits, especially after meal glucose-lowering, as demonstrated in clinical trials^2,3,4.
 
Study Summary:
A total of 29 sedentary overweight or obese adults (23 women; six men), ages 20-65 with a body mass index (BMI) range of 25 kg/m² to 36 kg/m² participated in a clinical weight-loss program. PGX^® granules (5 g) were consumed with 500 mL water 5-10 minutes before each meal, 2-3 times daily over a 14-week period.
 
After 14 weeks, weight, waist circumference, % body fat, total cholesterol, fasting plasma LDL, fasting plasma glucose, 2-hour glucose tolerance test and fasting insulin levels were measured and significant reductions were observed (p<0.05) in the followings:

• All participants together lost on average 5.79 kg. Men lost 5.14 kg and women lost 8.3 kg
• Waist circumference of all participants together lost on average 12.07 cm. Men lost 11.43 cm and women lost 10.21 cm
• Percentage of body fat of all participants together lost on average 2.43%. Men lost 2.55% and women lost 1.97%
• 17 out of the 29 participants had a 19% reduction in total cholesterol compared to baseline
• 16 participants had a 25% reduction in fasting blood LDL compared to baseline
• 20 participants had a 7% dropped in fasting blood glucose compared to baseline
• 21 participants had a 12% dropped in 2-hour glucose tolerance test compared to baseline
• 17 participants had a 27% reduction in fasting insulin levels compared to baseline 

Even though this is not the first published study on PGX, I was still quite thrilled when I see the findings of this study because personally I have been recommending PGX^® to many people and this re-assures all the things that I have been telling people about the benefits of taking PGX^®. Currently, PGX^® comes in three different delivery methods: granules, ultra matrix softgels or in a meal replacement drink. If you would like to try a sample of the product, send me an email at wtao@bioclinicnaturals and I will arrange a free sample for you to try it out yourself. 
 
For more information on the products, please go to:
http://www.bioclinicnaturals.com/ca/en/products/121/pgx-daily 
http://www.bioclinicnaturals.com/us/en/products/123/pgx 
http://www.bioclinicnaturals.com/us/en/products/124/pgx 
http://www.bioclinicnaturals.com/us/en/products/145/pgx 
 
For a complete copy of the journal article, please go to http://www.thorne.com/altmedrev/.fulltext/15/1/68.pdf 
 
References

1. Abdelhameed AS, Ang S, Morris GA et al. An analytical ultracentrifuge study on ternary mixtures of konjac Glucomannan supplemented with sodium alginate and xanthan gum. Carbohydrate Polymers 2010; 81(1):145-48.
2. Vuksan V, Sievenpiper JL, Owen R et al. Beneficial effects of viscous dietary fibre from Konjac-mannan in subjects with the insulin resistance syndrome: results of a controlled metabolic trial. Diabetes Care 23(1): 9-14, 2000.
3. Carabin IG, Lyon MR, Wood S et. al. Supplementation of the diet with the functional fiber PolyGlycoplex(R) is well tolerated by healthy subjects in a clinical trial. Nutr J. 2009; 8 (1): 9.
4. Lyon MR, Reichert RG. The effect of a novel viscous polysaccharide along with lifestyle changes on short-term weight loss and associated risk factors in overweight and obese adults: an observational retrospective clinical program analysis. Altern Med Rev. 2010 Apr;15(1):68-75.