Benefits
Fasting and After-Meal Blood Sugar
In a 90-day open-label trial run by the maker in adults newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and high blood lipids, 1 g or 2 g a day of Saberry was followed by lower fasting and after-meal blood sugar and HbA1c, with larger drops at 2 g. The trial was not blinded and had no placebo group, so it cannot show that Saberry manages blood sugar, and it is not a diabetes treatment.
Blood Lipid Support
In the open-label Saberry trial, LDL and total cholesterol fell more at 2 g than at 1 g a day. A separate double-blind trial in 98 adults with high blood lipids lowered total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and VLDL versus placebo, but it tested a different amla extract (TRI-LOW, 500 mg twice daily), so its result does not transfer directly to Saberry.
Antioxidant Research on Amla
The published Saberry trial did not measure antioxidant status. In a single trial in 15 healthy adults, a different amla extract (500 mg a day in 4-week crossover periods) lowered the oxidative stress marker 8-OHdG compared with placebo. In the maker's laboratory tests, Saberry scavenged free radicals, which does not show an effect in people.
Mechanism of action
Beta-Glucogallin
Beta-glucogallin (1-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose) is a major compound in amla fruit. In laboratory tests it selectively inhibited the enzyme aldose reductase, which converts glucose to sorbitol, and reduced sorbitol build-up in mouse lens tissue. These findings come from isolated compounds and tissue, not from people taking Saberry.
Polyphenol Content
Amla contains tannins and other polyphenols, including beta-glucogallin. The maker reports antioxidant activity for Saberry in laboratory tests. Whether that activity changes antioxidant status in people taking Saberry has not been measured.
Clinical trials
Randomized, open-label 90-day trial comparing Saberry (extract with 10% beta-glucogallin) at 1 g or 2 g a day with metformin 500 mg a day; the authors work for Sabinsa and its affiliates. (Majeed et al. 2022, Food Funct)
Adults newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia, a diagnosed-disease population.
Fasting and after-meal blood sugar, HbA1c and blood lipids fell in all three groups, and the authors reported lower blood sugar values at 2 g than with 1 g or metformin 500 mg. No serious adverse effects were reported. Because the trial was open-label and run by the maker, it cannot show that Saberry matches or outperforms a diabetes drug.
12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trial of 500 mg amla extract twice daily, sponsored by the extract maker Arjuna Natural; this is not Saberry. (Upadya et al. 2019, BMC Complement Altern Med)
98 adults with dyslipidemia.
Compared with placebo, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and VLDL cholesterol were significantly lower, and the atherogenic index of plasma fell 39%. The apoB to apoA1 ratio did not differ significantly from placebo.
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial of 500 mg a day of SunAmla, an amla extract made by Taiyo Kagaku, given in 4-week treatment periods within an 18-week study; four of the five authors work for Taiyo. This is not Saberry. (Kapoor et al. 2020, Contemp Clin Trials Commun)
15 healthy adults.
Blood fluidity, the primary outcome, improved. von Willebrand factor and the oxidative stress marker 8-OHdG fell, HDL rose and LDL fell. No adverse events were reported. A very small trial of a different extract.