AMLA, Vitamin C & Bioavailability: What Does the Research Show?
AMLA, Vitamin C & Bioavailability: What Does the Research Show?
Amla (Phyllanthus emblica) is frequently discussed in connection with naturally occurring vitamin C.
A published 2016 study investigated vitamin C bioavailability and antioxidant activity using amla alone, amla combined with piperine, amla combined with ginger, and synthetic vitamin C.
The results are interesting, but understanding exactly what was studied—and the limitations of the research—is essential.
The Published Study
Somasekhar and colleagues published:
“Comparative antioxidant and bioavailability studies of Vitamin C in Phyllanthus emblica Linn. and its combinations with Piper nigrum Linn. and Zingiber officinale Roscoe.”
The study appeared in the Brazilian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2016.
Researchers investigated both laboratory antioxidant activity and vitamin C bioavailability.
What Preparations Were Studied?
Four preparations were compared:
Synthetic Vitamin C
AMLA
AMLA + Piperine
AMLA + Ginger
The amla + piperine preparation contained:
99.8% amla + 0.2% piperine by weight
The study materials were obtained from Green-Chem Herbal Extracts and Formulations.
How Was Bioavailability Studied?
This is an important limitation:
The bioavailability experiment was conducted in New Zealand rabbits—not humans.
Sixteen rabbits were divided into four groups.
The preparations were administered orally at 100 mg/kg, and blood samples were collected over 24 hours.
Serum vitamin C concentrations were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
What Did the Researchers Report?
The study reported the following pharmacokinetic values:
Synthetic Vitamin C
AUC: 131.8
Cmax: 79.794 μg/mL
AMLA
AUC: 1218
Cmax: 226.989 μg/mL
AMLA + Piperine
AUC: 2630
Cmax: 465.880 μg/mL
AMLA + Ginger
AUC: 79.09
Cmax: 48.537 μg/mL
Under the experimental conditions used in this rabbit model, the amla + piperine preparation produced the highest measured serum vitamin C exposure among the four preparations.
Relationship to the AMLAPure Formulation
The amla + piperine preparation evaluated in the published study consisted of:
99.8% amla + 0.2% piperine by weight
AMLAPure uses the same:
99.8% amla / 0.2% piperine concentration
However, this distinction is important:
AMLAPure does NOT use the same source material that was used in the published study.
The study materials came from Green-Chem Herbal Extracts and Formulations. AMLAPure’s ingredients come from a different source.
Therefore, the similarity is specifically the amla-to-piperine concentration, not ingredient identity.
AMLAPure itself was not evaluated in this study.
Why Is the Formulation Similarity Interesting?
The research provides scientific context for the 99.8% amla / 0.2% piperine combination because that same concentration was evaluated experimentally in the published study.
However, matching the concentration does NOT establish that AMLAPure will reproduce the study results.
Ingredient source, botanical characteristics, extraction, processing, specifications and other formulation variables can affect a finished product.
The appropriate conclusion is:
AMLAPure uses the same amla-to-piperine concentration evaluated in this published research.
It is NOT appropriate to conclude from this study that:
- AMLAPure was studied
- AMLAPure uses the study’s ingredient
- AMLAPure has demonstrated the same bioavailability
- AMLAPure has been clinically proven
- the rabbit results establish human bioavailability
- AMLAPure produces the same pharmacokinetic results
What About Antioxidant Activity?
The researchers also performed several laboratory antioxidant assays.
These included DPPH radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, nitric oxide scavenging, total reduction capability and ORAC.
For the ORAC assay, the study reported:
Synthetic Vitamin C: 2465 TE/g
AMLA: 2651 TE/g
AMLA + Piperine: 3150 TE/g
AMLA + Ginger: 1875 TE/g
These are laboratory measurements.
They should not be interpreted as demonstrating a particular clinical effect in humans.
What Does This Study Actually Tell Us?
The study provides evidence concerning the specific preparations tested under its experimental conditions.
It is particularly useful for illustrating three principles:
1. Formulation matters.
The amla + piperine preparation produced different results from amla alone under the study conditions.
2. Ingredient identity matters.
Research on one botanical preparation should not automatically be attributed to a different commercial ingredient.
3. Study design matters.
Animal pharmacokinetic results and laboratory antioxidant measurements are not equivalent to human clinical outcomes.
The Bottom Line
The published study evaluated an amla + piperine preparation containing 99.8% amla and 0.2% piperine.
AMLAPure uses the same amla-to-piperine concentration, but does not use the same source material evaluated in the study.
In the rabbit bioavailability experiment, the amla + piperine preparation produced the highest measured vitamin C exposure among the preparations tested.
These findings provide scientific context for the formulation ratio but should not be interpreted as demonstrating the bioavailability or clinical efficacy of AMLAPure in humans.
Reference
Somasekhar V, Ashok P, Kameswari SAR, Rajendran R, Singh R. Comparative antioxidant and bioavailability studies of Vitamin C in Phyllanthus emblica Linn. and its combinations with Piper nigrum Linn. and Zingiber officinale Roscoe. Brazilian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2016;52(1).
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Disclaimer
This page discusses published scientific research for educational purposes. Animal and laboratory findings should not be interpreted as demonstrating clinical efficacy in humans. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.