Amlaac® (Amla / Indian Gooseberry Extract)

Phyllanthus emblica
Evidence Level
Limited
1 Clinical Trial
4 Documented Benefits
2/5 Evidence Score

Amlaac® is a branded standardized extract of amla (Phyllanthus emblica), the Indian gooseberry, a fruit with a long history of use in Ayurveda. Amla fruit is naturally high in vitamin C and polyphenols, and amla has been studied for effects on cholesterol, blood sugar and inflammation markers. One thing to know up front: the research summarized on this page was done with generic or other branded amla extracts, not with Amlaac® itself. No published human trial of the Amlaac® brand is cited here, so treat the findings below as evidence for amla as an ingredient rather than for this specific product.

Studied Dose Commonly around 500 mg to 1 g per day of amla extract. The pooled meta-analysis used various doses and preparations, and no Amlaac®-specific dose has been established in a trial.
Active Compound Standardized amla (Phyllanthus emblica / Emblica officinalis) fruit extract rich in vitamin C, gallic acid, and tannins.

Benefits

Healthy cholesterol

A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found that amla extract improved lipid profile measures, including total and LDL cholesterol, compared with control. The pooled trials used generic amla preparations, not the Amlaac® brand.

Blood glucose and CRP improved in pooled trials of generic amla

The same 2023 meta-analysis also reported improvements in blood glucose and in C-reactive protein, an inflammation marker, versus control. This is pooled evidence from separate trials of generic amla, and it does not mean amla treats, prevents or manages diabetes, heart disease or any other condition.

Naturally high in vitamin C and polyphenols

Amla fruit is naturally high in vitamin C and polyphenols. That is a statement about what is in the fruit, not a measured result. The meta-analysis cited on this page measured cholesterol, blood glucose and C-reactive protein, not antioxidant activity; oxidative stress markers were measured only in separate trials of another amla extract, described below.

Lower oxidative stress markers in trials of another amla extract

Tested as Capros, a different branded aqueous amla extract, not Amlaac. In a 12-week double-blind trial in 59 adults with metabolic syndrome, 250 or 500 mg twice daily raised glutathione (up to 53%) and cut malondialdehyde, a lipid peroxidation marker (up to 31%), with no change on placebo. A 12-week trial in type 2 diabetes improved these markers versus placebo. Each arm had about 20 people; the extract maker supplied the capsules.

Mechanism of action

1

Polyphenol and vitamin C antioxidants

In laboratory testing, amla's gallic acid, tannins and vitamin C can neutralize free radicals. This is a proposed explanation; two human trials of another amla extract found lower oxidative stress markers, but they did not show that direct radical scavenging is the cause.

2

Lipid and glucose modulation

Amla polyphenols are thought to influence how the body handles cholesterol and blood sugar. The trials pooled in the cited meta-analysis measured blood markers, so the underlying mechanism in people remains a proposal rather than a demonstrated one.

Clinical trials

1
Generic Amla and Cardiometabolic Markers: Meta-Analysis (not a study of Amlaac®)
PubMed

Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials of amla (Emblica officinalis) on lipid profile, glucose, and C-reactive protein. (Setayesh et al. 2023, Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome)

Adults pooled from multiple separate randomized controlled trials of generic amla extract. None of the pooled trials tested Amlaac®, and the trials differed in the amla preparation and dose used.

Pooled results favored amla over control for lipid profile, blood glucose and C-reactive protein. Because this is a meta-analysis combining separate trials that used different amla preparations and doses, it cannot tell you what one specific branded product such as Amlaac® will do, and it is not evidence that amla treats any disease.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Generally well tolerated: in two 12-week trials of an aqueous amla extract (250 or 500 mg twice daily), no one stopped because of side effects and laboratory safety tests did not change significantly. Tolerability data for this specific branded extract are limited.
Mild digestive upset is occasionally reported.
Discontinue if any unusual reaction occurs.

Important Drug interactions

Diabetes medication — amla may lower blood sugar; monitor.
Anticoagulants — possible mild additive effect; monitor.
Tell your doctor if you take cholesterol or diabetes medication.

Frequently asked questions about Amlaac® (Amla / Indian Gooseberry Extract)

What is Amlaac?

Amlaac® is a branded standardized extract of amla (Phyllanthus emblica), the Indian gooseberry, a fruit with a long history of use in Ayurveda. Amla fruit is naturally high in vitamin C and polyphenols, and amla has been studied for effects on cholesterol, blood sugar and inflammation markers.

What is Amlaac used for?

Amlaac is researched primarily for Antioxidant, Cardiovascular, and Metabolic Health. A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found that amla extract improved lipid profile measures, including total and LDL cholesterol, compared with control.

What is the recommended dosage of Amlaac?

The clinically studied dose is Commonly around 500 mg to 1 g per day of amla extract. The pooled meta-analysis used various doses and preparations, and no Amlaac®-specific dose has been established in a trial. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is Amlaac safe, and does it have side effects?

Side effects and cautions reported for Amlaac include: Generally well tolerated: in two 12-week trials of an aqueous amla extract (250 or 500 mg twice daily), no one stopped because of side effects and laboratory safety tests did not change significantly. Tolerability data for this specific branded extract are limited. It may also interact with some medications. Amlaac is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does Amlaac interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Diabetes medication — amla may lower blood sugar; monitor. Anticoagulants — possible mild additive effect; monitor. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Amlaac?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Amlaac as Limited (2 out of 5). It is backed by 1 study summary and 3 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(3 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Setayesh L, Haghighat N, Rasaei N, et al. The impact of Emblica Officinalis (Amla) on lipid profile, glucose, and C-reactive protein: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2023;17(3):102729..PubMedUsed to support: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of generic amla (Emblica officinalis) on lipid profile, glucose and C-reactive protein. It does not test the Amlaac® brand and did not measure antioxidant status.
  2. Usharani P, Merugu PL, Nutalapati C. Evaluation of the effects of a standardized aqueous extract of Phyllanthus emblica fruits on endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, systemic inflammation and lipid profile in subjects with metabolic syndrome: a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled clinical study. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2019;19(1):97..PubMedUsed to support: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 59 adults with metabolic syndrome. A standardized aqueous amla extract (Capros, supplied by Natreon), 250 or 500 mg twice daily for 12 weeks, raised glutathione and nitric oxide and lowered malondialdehyde. The 500 mg dose was significantly more effective than placebo. Not Amlaac. Backs the Antioxidant benefit.
  3. Usharani P, Fatima N, Muralidhar N. Effects of Phyllanthus emblica extract on endothelial dysfunction and biomarkers of oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized, double-blind, controlled study. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2013;6:275-84..PubMedUsed to support: Randomized, double-blind, controlled 12-week trial in which 80 patients with type 2 diabetes completed the study. A standardized aqueous amla extract (Capros, supplied by Natreon), 250 or 500 mg twice daily, improved oxidative stress biomarkers (malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, glutathione) compared with baseline and placebo. Not Amlaac. Backs the second-trial sentence of the Antioxidant benefit.