Yeast Cell Wall Fraction for Hyperinsulinemia Treatment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for hyperinsulinaemia, particularly in type-2 diabetes and obesity, often stimulate insulin secretion, whereas there is a need for agents that reduce blood sugar levels without increasing insulin secretion.
Innovation Solution
The use of yeast cell walls with a high total glucan and mannan content, obtained through autolysis or enzymatic hydrolysis, which are insoluble and have low glycogen content, to regulate insulin levels by acting as an insulin-regulating agent, specifically for the treatment and prevention of hyperinsulinaemia.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional treatments are used to reduce blood sugar levels, then glycaemia is reduced, but insulin secretion is stimulated (hyperinsulinism worsens)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and utilizes specifically the cell wall fraction of yeast, separating it from the complete yeast cell. This extracted cell wall fraction (containing β-glucans and mannans) acts independently to reduce blood sugar without stimulating insulin secretion, thus resolving the contradiction between glycaemia reduction and insulin secretion control
Solution Approach 2:
The yeast cell wall fraction acts as an intermediary substance between dietary carbohydrates and blood sugar regulation. It interferes with carbohydrate digestion and absorption processes, providing a mediating mechanism that lowers blood sugar levels through alternative pathways that do not involve insulin secretion stimulation
2Quantity of substance
If complete yeast cells are used, then all nutritional components are provided, but glycogen content is high (24.9%) which is not part of the cell wall
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies extraction by using enzymatic hydrolysis with proteases to solubilize and remove non-cell wall components (proteins, glycogen, trehalose) from complete yeast cells, leaving behind the purified cell wall fraction with high β-glucan and mannan content
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the yeast material through controlled enzymatic hydrolysis conditions (protease treatment, temperature, time) to selectively solubilize unwanted components while preserving the cell wall structure, achieving the desired composition with ≥34% total glucan and mannan and <10% glycogen
3Ease of manufacture
If yeast cell walls are obtained by simple hydrolysis, then production is simple, but glycogen content remains high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces proteases as intermediary enzymes to mediate the hydrolysis process. These enzymes specifically target and solubilize protein-associated glycogen and other non-cell wall components, achieving precise glycogen reduction while maintaining production feasibility through a single additional enzymatic step
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The yeast cell walls effectively reduce insulin peaks and maintain physiological insulin responses, as demonstrated in clinical trials with patients suffering from type-2 diabetes and overweight individuals, by administering a pharmaceutical composition containing these cell walls, which can be in various forms such as tablets or powders.
Implementation Method 1
obtained after autolysis or enzymatic hydrolysis
Implementation Method 2
obtained after autolysis or enzymatic hydrolysis, essentially, by proteases
Implementation Method 3
it has been shown that the β-glucans of yeast are capable of binding to macrophages and of activating them
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to the use of yeast flakes for preparing a pharmaceutical composition for treating and/or preventing hyperinsulinemia.