Phaseolus vulgaris extract supplements help to block the digestion of long-chain carbohydrates, which may have positive effects for weight loss and general health.
Phaseolus vulgaris is the botanical name for the common bean, also known as White Kidney Bean extract. Pods from kidney beans, pole beans, cranberry beans and other varieties of P. vulgaris contain the active compound Phaseolamin.
Phaseolamin has been invesgitaged for its benefits for obesity, prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol), urinary tract infections (UTIs), kidney stones and lung cancer.
Many Phaseolus vulgaris extract users report decreases in appetite, getting full on less food, and healthy weight management results when taking this supplement. White kidney bean extract can also help to control after-meal blood glucose spikes.



- Reduces breakdown & absortion of carbs
- Contains phaseolamin; inhibits alpha-amylase
- Supports weight loss & appetite control
Phaseolus Vulgaris Extract Benefits
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By inhibiting the metabolism of starches, Phaseolus vulgaris extract allows certain carbohydrates to avoid metabolic breakdown. It works by suppressing the actions of a digestive enzyme called alpha-amylase.
Alpha amylase isoform 1 (Alpha AI1) breaks down long-chain carbohydrates into smaller molecules called oligosaccharides. Oligosaccharides are groupings of simple sugar molecules; like glucose, fructose, galactose and maltose.
Simple sugars are called monosaccharides. These small carbohydrates are used for energy synthesis in the liver. They may also be stored away as adipose tissue (fat) and glycerol (triglycerides). They may also be stored in muscle cells as glycogen.
By preventing some of the carbs and starches ingested from being broken down and absorbed, Phaseolus vulgaris supplements may make it easier to lose weight.
In effect, these supplements lower the Glycemic Index of carbohydrate-rich foods and help to prevent excess levels of blood sugar, which can lead to weight gain.
How Phaseolus Vulgaris Extracts Work
The alpha amylase-inhibiting compound in Phaseolus vulgaris extracts is called phaseolamin. It is a proteinaceous enzyme found in all legumes, but is especially concentrated in white kidney beans.
When foods exit the stomach and enter the small intestines, phaseolamin acts to inhibit alpha amylase released from the pancreas. This suppresses the digestion process of some long-chain carbs.
When carbohydrates avoid digestive breakdown in the small intestines, they continue to pass through the digestive system in undigested form. They may then exit the body via excretion, or they may be broken down by bacteria inside the colon and fermented.
The effect of taking a Phaseolus vulgaris diet pill is to reduce the net number of calories absorbed from a carbohydrate-rich meal. These carbs exit the body unmetabolized, which makes it easier to attain a daily calorie defecit and supports weight loss.
Phase 2 Phaseolus Vulgaris Extracts
Phase 2 is a specific brand name of processed Phaseolus vulgaris extracts. It is the extract used in most human studies on P. vulgaris.
PHA (phytohaemagglutinin) is a protein lectin which can cause adverse effects like diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and flatulence.
Low quality P. vulgaris supplements can contain high amounts of PHA. Using a well-reputed carb blocking supplement like Phase 2 can lessen the risk of PHA-related adverse effects.
Phaseolus Vulgaris Extracts for Colon Cancer
Routinely taking a Phaseolus vulgaris extract supplement can improve a number of health markers, including decreasing body fat stores and naturally modulating blood glucose spikes.
Further, P. vulgaris seems to reduce risk factors for colon cancer in much the same ways as dietary fiber does.
As stated, some of the long-chain carbohydrates which are not digested due to Alpha AI1 inhibition are directed to colonic bacteria.
These unicellular microorganisms consume the undigested carbs via fermentation. In this manner, Phaseolus vulgaris extracts act like prebiotic agents.
When complex carbohydrates are fermented by colonic bacteria, they release short-chain fatty acids like acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid.
In animal research, these substances have demonstrated anticancer and chemopreventive effects, especially with regards to colon cancer. They also inhibit HDACs (histone deacetylases), which are often overexpressed in patients with colorectal and/or prostate cancer.
Phaseolus Vulgaris Extracts for Obesity
Obesity has reached pandemic levels in many countries and is associated with numerous ailments and diseases.
Research shows that Phase 2 Phaseolus vulgaris extracts can modestly reduce waist circumference and body weight. Visceral fat located around the waist and stomach (android fat) is known to be more harmful than fat stored around the hips and thighs (gynoid fat).
A higher ratio of android to gynoid fat has been linked to a greater risk of Diabetes, Gut and other diseases and health conditions.
White Kidney Bean extract is less effective for reducing hip circumference, which suggests it may only work for weight loss in obese individuals. 1000 mg doses have been used for obesity three times each day for periods up to 60 days.
Other research shows that 1000 mg doses taken twice each day with meals for 28 days has no effect on body weight relative to placebo effects.
However, in one study using this dosing schedule, treatment group subjects lost an average of 8.5 pounds each while placebo group subjects lost only 1.7 pounds on average.
Phaseolus Vulgaris Extract Side Effects
Phaseolus Vulgaris beans have an excellent safety profile and are well tolerated by most individuals. Temporary side effect potentials include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, constipation and/or flatulence. These effects normally pass quickly on their own.
Phaseolus vulgaris extracts do have hypoglycemic effects and may interact with insulin and other medications used to manage diabetes symptoms.
White kidney beans may interfere with blood glucose control during surgery Discontinue usage of P. vulgaris supplements at least two weeks prior to scheduled surgeries.
Conclusions
Phaseolus vulgaris extracts seem to be effective at inhibiting the digestion of starchy foods. They may help to induce weight loss in a manner similar to caloric restriction.
However, beneficial results from clinical trials have been highly variable. Note that P. vulgaris is not recommended as a weight loss supplement on its own and using this supplement is not likely to work if it is not combined with lifestyle changes.
Blocking the digestion of carbohydrates can have beneficial health effects. However, effective long-term weight and health management requires more. A diet consisting of water-rich foods, daily exercise, adequate hydration and other factors are important.
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Article last updated on: March 12th, 2018 by Nootriment