Glyconutrients Laboratories: Formulating Essential Monosaccharides

Glyconutrients Laboratories, Grand Rapids, MI, was founded in 2005 to research, develop and oversee the manufacture of the world’s first complete, totally bioavailable glyconutrients. Food delivery methods of today’s industrialized world have decreased the amount of naturally occurring glyconutrients in our diet. As a result, Glyconutrients Laboratories is working to regain these important nutrients in an effort to improve the population’s overall health.

According to Gary Osborne, business development director, glyconutrients enable cellular communication, a process crucial to feeding, fueling, protecting and rebuilding the human body. “As the 1950s were marked by the advances in genetics that set the stage for the famous genome project, this decade heralds the discovery of cellular communication and the role played by eight essential monosaccharides (glyconutrients),” said Mr. Osborne. “In fact, four of the last eight Noble Prizes in medicine were awarded to those researching cellular communication. And major universities, like Oxford and University of California, have glycobiology research facilities.”

Naturally, organizations that produce high caliber nutraceuticals and foods expect their customers to get all the benefits from their products—this is where glyconutrients can help. “Assimilation of nutrition into the body is facilitated when the need for nutrients is conveyed,” explained Mary Ryan, CN, product education director. “Glyconutrient chains are attached to protein stems on the cell membrane surface. As these structures touch the glyconutrient chains from other cells, messages are electrically sent. Cells with a good array of glyconutrient chains will use quality foods and supplements more effectively to maintain the health and longevity of the cell.”

Glyconutrients Laboratories’ prominent ingredient is Glyco-8. It contains a unique, polymerized glyconutrient ingredient that incorporates all eight essential monosaccharides (glucose, xylose, fucose, N-acetyl galactosmine, mannose, N-Acetyl glucosamine, N-acetyl neuraminic acid and galactose) in a single, non-branched polysaccharide chain. Glyco-8 is available in powder, liquid and cream form. “This product, along with other unique formulations, provides advanced bioavailability, delivering structural nutrition that encourages proper cellular communication,” said Mr. Osborne.

In July 2006, the company released an analytical report documenting the findings of the chromatographic analysis for Glyco-8. The analysis established and documented the quantity and quality of monosaccharides found in the product.

“Glyconutrients Laboratories has developed this complete glyconutrient complex with markedly improved bioavailability,” said Mr. Osborne. “We have achieved a uniquely designed polysaccharide chain that offers more surface area, resulting in more effective absorption.

“Food and nutraceutical products fortified with Glyco-8 have a positive impact on wellness,” continued Mr. Osborne. “And the results of the chromatographic analysis scientifically confirm why that impact occurs.”

Early success has led Glyconutrients Laboratories’ scientists to continue their research, development and refinement of high quality glyconutrient products, as well as to investigate additional ways of supporting health through supplementation. To keep up with the fast-growing interest of the glyconutrients marketplace, the company is expanding its sales staff and product production, and recently moved to its current location in Grand Rapids to better accommodate its needs.

“Glyconutrients Laboratories hopes to focus more attention on the effects of structural sugars on human health and cellular communication,” said Ms. Ryan. “Natural essential monosaccharides open a new avenue of research.”

Mr. Osborne agrees that these are exciting times for the industry. “Research, development and advancing technologies are allowing us to fortify our foods and optimize nutrition so that we can feed the human body what it needs to function as it was designed, maintain better health and fight disease,” he said.

Unfortunately, as with most late-breaking markets, there are some poor quality, ineffective nutrients being touted. Glyconutrients Laboratories’ role will be to maintain product purity to help give the nutraceuticals industry a good name.—M.Z.

Glyconutrients Laboratories
2525 East Paris Avenue, Suite 100
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
Telephone: 800-506-1750
Website: www.glyconutrientslabs.com