Deep Dive on The Glucose Goddess
Let's take a closer look at some of her claims
The Glucose Goddess is Jessie Inchauspé, a biochemist and social media influencer who uses her platform to promote strategies for managing blood sugar levels. Her books, "Glucose Revolution" and "The Glucose Goddess Method" have become bestsellers. While she holds a master's degree in biochemistry, her content's scientific merit is debatable. Now, she's delving into supplements, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the exploitation of health trends for personal gain.
There’s a whole podcast episode on this topic (with important insights from Drs. Karl and Spencer Nadolsky)— but we wanted to revisit some of the specifics and share additional details with you.
As well as a post that breaks down some of the main points:
Here's why her latest supplement, "Anti-Spike Formula", is causing controversy:
The Claims: Inchauspé claims her supplement can reduce post-meal blood sugar spikes by up to 40%. She suggests this leads to benefits like reduced cravings, improved mood, and less risk of developing chronic diseases like diabetes.
Lack of Robust Evidence: Health professionals express concern about the lack of independent, peer-reviewed scientific studies verifying the supplement's claims. Inchauspé bases the formula on her interpretations of research and personal experimentation, but she only cites a few small studies and does not have evidence specifically for the supplement she has developed with this new combination of herbal ingredients.
Not Clinically Studied: She says it is “clinically proven” but there were no clinical studies done with the supplement itself and she relies on studies conducted with some of the individual ingredients. Those ingredient studies are not robust – they have small sample sizes with limited controls for external factors that may be impacting outcomes (more on this below!).
Underlying Message: Some critics claim the "Anti-Spike" messaging implies that any blood sugar spike is inherently harmful. This is an oversimplification, as our bodies experience natural fluctuations in blood sugar throughout the day.
Focusing on Fear: Critics find the emphasis on blood sugar "spikes" as fear-based marketing, suggesting it perpetuates a negative, overly restrictive mindset around food.
Potential Overreliance: There is the worry that people may rely on the supplement instead of focusing on sustainable dietary and lifestyle changes, which remain a cornerstone of blood sugar management.
Important Considerations:
Individual Variability: Everyone responds to foods differently, and importantly, the need for supplementation with medication, vitamins, or even with herbal supplements varies per person as we are all unique in our physiology, diseases, medications, dietary, and personal health behaviors.
Diabetes Management: For people with diabetes, managing blood sugar is crucial, but consulting their doctor about medication and lifestyle changes is paramount before taking any supplements.
Balanced Approach: While blood sugar management is important, promoting a healthy relationship with food and avoiding demonizing carbohydrates is equally essential.
What is the supplement and why is it problematic?
The Anti-Spike Formula. This new supplement, currently available for pre-order for an eye-watering $65 (with shipment costs included) starting in May 2024, promises to “combat the dreaded post-meal blood sugar spike.” Marketed as a “natural” solution, Inchauspe emphasizes that it is 100% natural ingredients, touting it as gut-friendly, sugar-free, vegan, and gluten-free.
Anti-Spike's recipe boasts four main ingredients: white mulberry leaf*, touted to potentially slow down carbohydrate absorption; lemon and cinnamon extracts**, asserted to have potential blood sugar management benefits; and the intriguing "Glucose Goddess Antioxidants," a proprietary blend of vegetable extracts (detailed below). The first three ingredients have some extremely limited, mainly pre-clinical research behind them but there is no clinical evidence that they work. This is a very common ploy used by those who perpetuate pseudoscience for profit – they take a nugget of scientific truth from mechanistic data, for example, and then extrapolate and generalize to make claims not supported by real data.
*There are mixed results for the use of white mulberry leaf in diabetes with relatively small studies </=50 subjects in humans. (Most of the research on this topic has been assessed via animal studies.) The issue with this supplement is the phytochemical amounts have not yet been fully standardized which can mean that the end product in some supplements can vary and give inconsistent amounts of the "beneficial" phytochemicals. The clinical impact of which is variable at best.
Further, side effects of white mulberry leaf include bloating, constipation, gas, and loose stools in some people. It is uncertain if it will interact with diabetes medications and any medications that are moved in and out of cells by OCT2 pumps. White mulberry might change how these pumps work and change how much medication stays in the body. In some cases, this might change the effects and side effects of a medication (e.g. metformin, histamine).
**There are different types of cinnamon (e.g., Ceylon, Cassia). Cassia (aka “Chinese cinnamon”) has coumarin and, using average coumarin levels for Cassia cinnamon, this would be equivalent to about half a tsp (2.5 g) of Cassia cinnamon per day for a 165-pound (75-kg) individual. Clinical results are again mixed and they are animal or small human studies with varied results, but not consistent nor clear on dosing necessary to elicit consistent results as with many supplements.
François Jornayvaz, Head of Geneva University Hospitals: "She hides behind a pseudoscientific appearance to advocate a method which, in my opinion, doesn't work and is based on very little evidence. The scientific studies she cites are highly anecdotal, if not outright false, or not applicable to what she proposes”
She has also made other claims not supported by evidence:
That people don’t need sugar: “sugar is for pleasure, but it’s harmful for our health and we don’t need it.” A reminder that glucose is the body's primary fuel source. There are different sources of glucose, of course, and we can get it from sugar, as well as from breaking down complex carbohydrates (starches) in whole grains, vegetables, etc.
That high glucose leads to increased testosterone in women and balding on the head but hair growth on the face. This is an overly simplified and misleading statement that ignores that not every woman with high glucose/insulin will experience this specific hair pattern and, most importantly, other factors play a role, including genetics and individual hormone sensitivity.
That glucose “spikes” cause inflammation and eczema. This is yet another overly simplified and misleading statement. Eczema is a complex skin condition with many potential triggers. Some research suggests that glucose spikes and associated inflammation may worsen eczema symptoms in some individuals. Not everyone with eczema will have severe reactions to glucose spikes. Other triggers for eczema flare-ups exist, including food allergies, environmental irritants, and stress.
What do I need to know about the glucose/insulin signaling pathway?
Insulin is a signaling hormone produced by beta islet cells in the pancreas (the organ in our abdomen that produces hormones and secretes enzymes necessary for digestion and metabolism). Insulin is a protein that works as a long-distance signaling molecule to help regulate the metabolism of macromolecules (carbs, fats, proteins). Insulin promotes the uptake of glucose in blood into liver, fat, and skeletal muscle cells. That glucose is converted to glycogen or triglycerides depending on the cell types.
Production/secretion of insulin occurs via a negative feedback loop. When blood sugar rises (after we eat), insulin production rises, which reduces blood sugar. When the blood sugar is low on the other hand, the body will work to achieve homeostasis (the body’s balancing act) by enlisting the alpha cells which secrete glucagon to help the liver begin not only to create glucose but to breakdown the glycogen stores into freely available glucose to fuel the body.
Our bodies typically maintain a normal sustained blood glucose level of <100 mg/dL, but will rise to ~140 mg/dL for most non-diabetics during digestion (approximately 2 hours post-meal). As we get older, the post-meal glucose levels can be higher - 150 to 160 mg/dL after the age of 50. For diabetics, this number can be 180 mg/dL or more.
Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease where the pancreas does not make insulin or makes very little insulin. It often arises during childhood, but diagnosis can be delayed into adulthood - the reason for this is not fully understood.
Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is a condition wherein the way the body regulates and uses sugar is abnormal. The pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the cells respond poorly to insulin and take in less sugar (insulin resistance). This can be due to genetic predisposition and/or behavior and can be managed with medication, exercise, and dietary changes. In some cases, it requires insulin therapy.
As we’ve discussed in our episode on diabetes, it is NORMAL for your body’s sugar levels to increase after eating. Insulin will be released to help the sugar enter your cells to be used for energy. This means your body is doing what it's supposed to - harnessing blood glucose for energy. This isn’t a “spike” in glucose, it's a regulated process (this is called a feedback loop!).
Some foods release sugars and carbohydrates more quickly – low glycemic index foods. The glycemic index is a ranking system that measures the impact of carbohydrates on our blood sugar levels. The number assigned to the food indicates how rapidly the food is digested and absorbed. However, the total amount of sugar and carbohydrates absorbed remains the same; but absorption takes a bit longer as the food needs to be broken down into smaller units - glucose.
Glucose spikes in non-diabetic patients don’t contribute to the development of insulin resistance. A more careful review of the literature shows that, at best, glycemic spikes were associated with acne, alterations of sleep, and even the onset of type 2 diabetes, but it is not changed in blood glucose levels alone, but a diet that is excessively high in sugar, fat, and carbohydrates (and low in fiber, etc). As with most things, these are multifactorial issues and the Glucose Goddess is oversimplifying complex matters.
Inchauspé claims that her suggested “glucose hacks” (which she has written two books about and is now selling a supplement to support) will “put people’s type 2 diabetes in remission by balancing ‘glucose levels’ and will prevent you from developing type 2 diabetes”. Even more incredibly, she claims these “glucose hacks” can also balance your hormones, tackle inflammation, improve sleep, and more. This sounds too good to be true…because it is.
When introducing this supplement on her website she says:
“it is a supplement for the thousands of people who have asked me for a supplement to support their glucose journey. And I am SO PROUD of this formula, so proud of this product, and I know you will love it as much as I do. It’s the best supplement in the market with gold-standard science backing it.
You take 2 capsules once a day before the meal of your day highest in carbs or sugars. It’s very similar to how you would use vinegar. If you want a little extra help to keep your glucose steady, to help your insulin resistance, cravings and fatigue, Anti-Spike has got your back.”
The “gold standard data” from her website is focused on 11 studies (you can read a few here, here, and here):
White mulberry leaf extract (Reducose® - morus alba L): There was one systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies - interestingly none of the other six studies included on her site were included in this review as they were not of high enough quality nor comparable in design to be included. One of the small studies was conducted by the makers of Reducose. The reductions in glucose for all cited studies varied from 15% to 40%.
Nutraceutical Eriocitrin (Eriomin® - citrus limon): one study is in a Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem and the others were small studies with 30-103 subjects. And the effect on blood glucose of 5% and a reduction of insulin resistance of 7 - 11%.
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum - Ceylon cinnamon) - a single study in 60 patients who received 1,3, or 6 grams of Cinnamomum aromaticum (cassia cinnamon) or placebo (10 subjects in each arm) for 40 days. It reported glucose reduction between 18-29%.
Glucose Goddess® antioxidants - 100 mg in total combines purple carrot, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, asparagus, zucchini, cucumber, artichoke. With no clinical evidence supporting any clear health benefit.
To illustrate the “clinical effect” she provides graphs (see Graph 1 below) that “illustrate the effects” of a paper she cites that has no clear connection to her own supplement. Additionally, all of her studies do not appear easily generalizable to the general public as they were conducted in type 2 diabetic patients. This clinical data provided does not reflect the complexity of each individual - particularly non-diabetic patients - as the actual clinical glycemic response will vary.
In addition, she did not conduct clinical studies with her Anti-Spike Formula specifically. It is uncertain how she arrived at a “reduction of nearly 40%” - this assumption is driven by which ingredient? If all three key ingredients in the Anti-Spike Formula - mulberry leaf extract, Eriomin®, or cinnamon show additive effects, it could potentially higher glycemic reductions and could drive hypoglycemic events in non-diabetics. As the effects of the Anti-Spike Forumula are also not proven to be safe in diabetic patients - who may be on several other therapeutics for glycemic control - could also prove dangerous. We simply do not know as no studies were conducted with the entire formula of extracts combined!
Graph 1: Illustrated effects of scientific paper included on the Glucose Goddess Website
So what does this mean for me?
Healthy nutrition cannot be reduced to only glucose levels. Nothing demonstrates that taking mulberry extract, cinnamon, and Eriomin® is safe and without side effects long term. No data demonstrates that taking this Anti-Spike Formula long term is effective or safe, as they have not been studied together and as there is no regulatory oversight of the manufacturing and quality of this supplement, we cannot be sure this is going to be monitored for safety and if the quality of the product is consistent and safe.
On the website, it claims:
“You may have heard me talk about vinegar to lower glucose spikes. Well, Anti-Spike is even more powerful than vinegar. A tablespoon of vinegar lowers the spike of a meal by up to 30%, but Anti-Spike lowers the spike of a meal by up to 40%.
Anti-Spike is also much more powerful than fiber pills, chromium, berberine, and bitter melon, which you'll find in common supplements on the market.
None of these claims can be substantiated as no head-to-head studies have been conducted with the supplements above and the Anti-Spike Formula. This would not be allowed in the pharmaceutical industry as it is considered unethical and scientifically unsound - it simply should not be allowed with supplements like this!
What’s the harm?
Many ‘herbal extracts’ can have serious adverse effects on people. They can interfere with medications, inhibit absorption of essential nutrients, and cause acute liver and kidney toxicity. Supplement overdosing accounted for 20% of liver damage and hepatotoxicity in the US in 2017 and that number is likely higher now.
If you take all the substances in this supplement on their own, they have clear potential side effects and interactions with medications we take every day - for white mulberry leaf extract, Eriomin®, and Cinnamon. For diabetic patients especially, this needs to be carefully considered with the physician overseeing their diabetic care. There may be drug interactions and as the mean number of drugs used by diabetic patients is around 7 medications this supplement could worsen hypoglycemic events (which are also very dangerous) and cause unintended effects with their other medications. As this supplement is targeted at diabetic and non-diabetic patients, a cautious approach makes sense as there is no clinical data to support the efficacy or safety of this product.
Take away message:
The Glucose Goddess and this supplement have a high potential to fuel disordered eating and unnecessary health anxiety.
Hyperfixation on glucose does not help correct for nutritional and other lifestyle modifications that are also critical in achieving and maintaining good health and with the successful management of diabetes
Ingesting food and the micronutrients as intended is also important to human microbiota and overall health. This supplement is not a replacement for that.
Further, the supplement has not been clinically proven to give the result promised and its safety is unknown.
As was said long ago “caveat emptor” or “Let the buyer beware!” This is a rather pricey supplement and the actual benefit (and safety) is not known. Save your money and instead use it to include more produce in your diet, or to cover part of your gym or yoga studio membership each month!
If you already, please subscribe to the Unbiased Science YouTube channel for more!
Special thanks to Michelle Bridenbaker for lending her expertise in medical toxicology and clinical medicine and co-authoring this piece.
Thank you for your continued support, friends!
~Jess