Glucerna

Glucerna is the brand name of a family of tube feeding formula, bottled or canned shakes, and snack bars manufactured by Abbott Laboratories.[1] It was introduced to the public in 1989.[2] These medical nutritional products are meant for people with diabetes and are promoted for their ability to satisfy hunger without causing rapid increases in glucose concentration in the bloodstream.

Products

Tube feeding products include Glucerna 1.0Cal, Glucerna 1.2Cal, and Glucerna 1.5Cal. Bottled or canned products include Glucerna Shake, Glucerna Advance Shake, Glucerna HungerSmart Shake, Glucerna Snack Shake, and Glucerna Therapeutic Nutrition Shake. Snack bar products include Glucerna Mini Snack Bars and Glucerna Crispy Delights Nutrition Bars.

Composition and properties

Glucerna products are formulated with fat, protein, vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates including CarbSteady, proprietary carbohydrate blend containing sucromalt that is characterized by a reduced glycemic index of approximately 53.[3][4] Some Glucerna products contain chromium picolinate, and phytosterols. There is evidence that phytosterols may help lower cholesterol,[5] but the efficacy of chromium supplementation has not been fully agreed among experts.[6][7]

The glycemic index of Glucerna shakes is approximately 31 relative to a value of 100 for pure glucose,[8] while the snack bar has been found to produce less than a third of the glycemic response of a conventional snack bar.[9] A scientific review concluded that diabetic snack bars, such as Glucerna snack bars, can be useful for weight control and for blunting hyperglycemia but are not suitable for treating hyperglycemia.[9]

Like most premade foods, Glucerna products can be expensive compared with alternative healthy foods prepared at home.[10]

References
  1. Abbot Laboratories. "Glucerna — Helping people with diabetes find balance". Retrieved 28 October 2011.
  2. http://www.nutritionnews.abbott/our-history.html
  3. Abbot Laboratories. "The science behind Glucerna". Retrieved 28 October 2011.
  4. Cargill. "Cargill's sucromalt work with USDA's Agricultural Research Service receives "Superior Technology Transfer Award"". Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  5. European Food Safety Authority, Journal (2010). "Scientific opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to plant sterols and plant stanols and maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations".
  6. Heimbach, J.T.; Anderson, Richard A. (2005). "Chromium: Recent Studies Regarding Nutritional Roles and Safety". Nutrition Today. 40 (4): 189––195. doi:10.1097/00017285-200507000-00013.
  7. Vincent, John B . (2003). "The Potential Value and Toxicity of Chromium Picolinate as a Nutritional Supplement, Weight Loss Agent and Muscle Development Agent". Sports Medicine. 33 (3): 213–230. doi:10.2165/00007256-200333030-00004. PMID 12656641.
  8. "Glycemic Index for Glucerna, vanilla (Abbott Laboratories Inc, USA)". Diet and Fitness Today. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
  9. Rafkin-Mervis, Lisa E.; Jennifer B. Marks (January 2001). "The Science of Diabetic Snack Bars: A Review". Clinical Diabetes. 19 (1): 4–12. doi:10.2337/diaclin.19.1.4. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
  10. "Glucerna Review". Diet Spotlight. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
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