Abstract

Musolino, V  et  al,  Journal  of Traditional and Complementary Medicine.

Background and Aim: Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) represents a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. NAFLD is worsened by the simultaneous occurrence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) causing an enhancement of inflammatory and fibrotic processes. Although insulin resistance appears the link between NAFLD and T2DM, current pharmacological treatments of T2DM failed to produce relevant benefits in preventing T2DM-related liver dysfunction. In this randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical study, we evaluated the effect of Bergacyn, an innovative formulation originating from the combination of Bergamot Polyphenolic Fraction (BPF) and Cynara cardunculus (CyC). Experimental procedure: 80 adult patients with a history of at least 12 months of T2DM and NAFLD received orally BPF (300 mg/daily) Cyc (300 mg/daily), separately or formulated in combination 50/50% (Bergacyn; 300 mg/daily), or placebo all containing 300 mg of bergamot albedo fibers micronized and co-grinded as excipients. Results and Conclusion: Serum measurements and liver ultrasound analyses showed that concomitant administration of BPF and CyC produced significant improvement of NAFLD biomarkers in patients with T2DM. This effect was associated with a substantial reduction of oxidative stress/inflammatory biomarkers, thus contributing to a significant improvement of NO-mediated reactive vasodilation. Furthermore, the effect of Bergacyn showed a synergistic effect of both extracts, thus suggesting that this peculiar formulation represents a novel therapeutic strategy to counteract vascular inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in patients suffering from T2DM and NAFLD. Further studies in larger cohort of diabetic patients are required to better identify the potential of Bergacyn on metabolic disorders accompanying T2DM and NAFLD.

Bergacyn® supports healthy liver fat levels in clinical studies *

Bergacyn® is the first, solvent-FREE, branded botanical ingredient of its kind to establish a proven liver support mechanism in populations that have accumulated excess liver fat. Overly excessive fat in the liver, generally brought on by poor lifestyle choices, is metabolically active and is believed to set the stage for chronic diseases.  Bergacyn’s affinity to the liver and support of healthy immune and inflammatory function provides antioxidant, lipid and glucose metabolism support, helping to unburden an often overlooked organ.

With over 2.5 billion people estimated to be suffering from metabolic syndrome and obesity, significant drivers in the development of hepatic steatosis (fatty liver) and its sequela, Bergacyn® intake proved to be especially appropriate for reducing liver fat in overweight subjects, those 50-years and older, and those with central body fat accumulation. Independent of caloric restriction, Bergacyn® intake over 12 weeks resulted in significantly more weight loss, as compared to placebo (p=0.004), extending additional, complementary benefit in populations seeking overall better health. 

Bergacyn is changing the way we think of supporting the liver with botanicals. Whereas ‘liver support’ to the consumer of the past may have simply meant ‘detox’, seasonal or otherwise; the ‘liver support’ story of the future will absolutely tie into the narrative of lifestyle, cardiovascular health and metabolic efficiency.

Bergacyn® is a patented extract of Bergamot fruit and Artichoke leaf.

Bergacyn® is a science-backed, process-patented, low-dose, powerhouse blend of botanical extracts from the Italian Bergamot citrus fruit and wild-variety of Italian Cynara cardunculus leaf.

Bergacyn® is not simply a blend of 2 powdered herbs. The synergism activated by the patented, in-process extraction method significantly reduces the clinically substantiated requirement for the individual ingredients. Moreover, the Cynara used in Bergacyn is not the standard industry variety of cardunculus, but a wild ancestor thereof, shown to be significantly richer in the anti-inflammatory sesquiterpene, cyanopicrin. Cyanopicrin has proven TNF-α inhibitory and anti-proliferative activity. Cyanopicrin effectively complements the already well-characterized Bergamot flavonoid fraction, to be more effective than Bergamot alone in targeting metabolically-active liver fat.

The proprietary addtion of pulp fibers from the bergamot fruit round off this high-performing extract, providing additional polyphenols and lipid-absorbing benefits that potentiate the other bergamot and cynara actives.

Bergacyn’s profile is unique to it’s growing region and patented process.

Bergacyn’s unique growing terrain, Reggio Calabria, is the region nestled along the ‘toe of Italy’s boot’ spanning both coasts of the Mediterranean Sea and divided in the middle by the southern-most chain of the Appinnine Mountains. This uniquely tropical, Saharan-desert dusted, coastal and mountainous region produces a favorable and exclusive profile of flavonoids and sesquiterpenes in the Bergamot fruit and Artichoke (Cynara) leaf that are unlike any of the related species of these botanicals found anywhere else in the world. These actives are extracted, using a 100% solvent-FREE, patented process that is both synergizing and bioavailability-enhancing.