Gateway Health Alliances has announced the launch of Somnoril, an ingredient which contains Dichrostachys glomerata, a plant which has a long history of use as a culinary spice and traditional medicine.

A new published clinical study in Medical Research provided evidence that the extract could enhance measures of restorative sleep quality and daytime energy and activity. Four previous studies also respectively found that, across about 550 subjects, supplementation was associated with weight loss without diet or exercise, as well as markers of metabolic balance and wellness, the company reported.

“Somnoril is a first-of-its-kind natural ingredient that can help consumers address three global health concerns – sleep, healthy weight loss, and metabolic wellness,” said Shil Kothari, president of Gateway Health Alliances. “Our latest research extends the clinically validated weight management benefits of Dichrostachys glomerata to include improvement of sleep quality and quantity for individuals experiencing poor sleep.”

Clinical and preclinical research has highlighted the antioxidant activities of the flavonoids, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, and terpenoids within the extract. These antioxidant activities are thought to counteract the oxidative stress caused by poor sleep, according to the company.

In the most recent study, 56 adults with a median age of 44 who self-reported poor sleep were randomized to receive either a placebo or 300 mg of Dichrostachys glomerata extract for 60 days. Sleep outcomes were assessed using the Insomnia Severity Index, with objective measures of sleep and daytime activity gathered via Oura Rings.

Compared to the placebo group, the treatment group saw significant improvements in self-reported sleep scores, including: a 25.6% reduction of insomnia symptoms; significantly greater deep sleep time improvements; less time awake in bed; a 19.7% improvement in time to fall asleep (compared to 9% in placebo users); longer sleep duration; increased total (light, REM, deep) sleep; and improved activity levels, as measured by Activity Score and Stay Active Score.

“The qualitative results aligned with the objective measures of sleep quality and quantity, as well as daily activity levels,” said Heather A. Hausenblas, Ph.D., lead study author and Professor, School of Applied Health Sciences, Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences at Jacksonville University. “This demonstrates that the study findings are robust and consistent, providing a more holistic understanding of the participants’ experiences.”

Weight Management and Metabolic Wellness

In prior studies, the ingredient was evidenced to safely and efficaciously improve metabolic wellness and facilitate weight loss compared to placebo.

In one randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 297 obese men and women took either a placebo or 200 mg of the ingredient twice daily for eight weeks. Measurements of 16 parameters, including biochemical, body weight and composition, were taken at baseline and after four and eight weeks of supplementation. The treatment group showed statistically significant improvements by all measures at every point in the study.

By eight weeks, the treatment group lost an average of 24.5 pounds, reduced body fat by an average of 10.7 pounds, and reduced their waist and hip circumferences by 10.2% and 7.1% respectively.

These changes coincided with improvements in blood glucose, triglycerides, insulin, adiponectin, C-reactive protein, and cholesterol measures, as well as improved blood pressure.