Ingredients
Glyco Defender Ingredients: The Full Formula, Weighed Line by Line
Glyco Defender ingredients are 7 mcg of chromium picolinate plus a 15.47 mg blend of 21 items, from maca root first to L-carnitine last. Split evenly, each blend item gets about 0.74 mg, far below the doses used in studies. No trial has tested the full formula, so the evidence comes from single ingredients only.
Written by the Glyco Defender facts deskUpdated
The list01
What is on the Glyco Defender ingredients list?
The Glyco Defender ingredients list has 22 lines: chromium picolinate with a printed 7 mcg, then a 15.47 mg blend of 21 items.
The table runs in label order. Each name links to its profile. For every line it gives the most one dropper can hold, the amount used in research and how strong that research is.
The printed panel, footnotes included, is on the supplement facts page.
| Label line | Place | Per mL (1 dropper) | Amount used in research | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chromium (as Chromium Picolinate) | Chromium line | 7 mcg | Daily Value 35 mcg; diabetes trials used up to 1,000 mcg a day (NIH ODS, Chromium) | Slight fasting-glucose drop in diabetes trials; no help in healthy people |
| Maca (Lepidium meyenii) Root Extract | 1 of 21 | at most 15.47 mg | Studied for other uses, not blood sugar (MSKCC, Maca) | No blood sugar trials |
| African Mango (Irvingia gabonensis) Seed Extract | 2 of 21 | at most 7.7 mg | 150 mg twice a day (300 mg) (MSKCC, Irvingia gabonensis (African mango)) (NIH ODS, Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss) | Weak, small trials |
| Grape (Vitis vinifera) Seed Extract | 3 of 21 | at most 5.2 mg | Studied for other uses (NCCIH, Grape Seed Extract) | Not established for blood sugar |
| Guarana (Paullinia Cupana) Seed Extract | 4 of 21 | at most 3.9 mg | Caffeine source (MSKCC, Guarana) (FDA, Caffeine: how much is too much?) | Not a blood sugar ingredient |
| Eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus) Root Extract | 5 of 21 | at most 3.1 mg | 800 mg a day in one trial (MSKCC, Siberian Ginseng (Eleuthero)) (NIH ODS, Exercise & Athletic Performance) | No effect in rigorous studies |
| Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract | 6 of 21 | at most 2.6 mg | No blood sugar dose established (NCCIH, Astragalus) | Not established |
| Green Tea Leaf Extract | 7 of 21 | at most 2.2 mg | 141-1,207 mg catechins (weight studies) (NCCIH, Green Tea) (NIH ODS, Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss) | Small, inconsistent |
| Gymnema Sylvestre Leaf Extract | 8 of 21 | at most 1.9 mg | 200-400 mg a day of extract (Drugs.com, Gymnema monograph) | Small trials; small effect |
| Forskohlii (Coleus forskohlii) Root Extract | 9 of 21 | at most 1.7 mg | 500 mg a day of 10% forskolin extract (MSKCC, Forskolin (Coleus forskohlii)) (NIH ODS, Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss) | No weight effect in small trials |
| Cayenne Pepper (Capsicum annuum) Fruit Extract | 10 of 21 | at most 1.5 mg | 2-4 mg capsaicin a day (MSKCC, Cayenne (Capsicum)) (NIH ODS, Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss) | No significant weight change |
| Grapefruit (Citrus Paradisi) Seed | 11 of 21 | at most 1.4 mg | No studied dose found (FDA, Grapefruit juice and drugs) | Not established |
| Ginseng (Panax Ginseng) Root Extract | 12 of 21 | at most 1.3 mg | About 100 mg to 20 g (mostly root) (NCCIH, Asian Ginseng) (Shishtar et al., PLoS One 2014) | Modest drop in fasting glucose; no A1C effect |
| Raspberry Ketones | 13 of 21 | at most 1.2 mg | Only tested in combination products (OPSS (DoD), Raspberry Ketone) (NIH ODS, Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss) | No human evidence alone |
| L-glutamine | 14 of 21 | at most 1.1 mg | About 15-45 g a day (sports studies) (NIH ODS, Exercise & Athletic Performance) | Not supported for performance |
| L-Tyrosine | 15 of 21 | at most 1 mg | No blood sugar dose established (Drugs.com, Tyrosine) | Not established |
| L-Arginine | 16 of 21 | at most 0.97 mg | 2-20 g a day (sports studies) (MSKCC, Arginine) (NIH ODS, Exercise & Athletic Performance) | Little or no performance benefit |
| Beta Alanine | 17 of 21 | at most 0.91 mg | 1.6-6.4 g a day (NIH ODS, Exercise & Athletic Performance) | Mixed (exercise only) |
| Monoammonium Glycyrrhizinate | 18 of 21 | at most 0.86 mg | No studied dose found (NCCIH, Licorice Root) | Not established |
| GABA (Gamma Aminobutyric Acid) | 19 of 21 | at most 0.81 mg | No blood sugar dose established (Hepsomali et al., Front Neurosci 2020) | Limited evidence (stress, sleep) |
| L-Tryptophan | 20 of 21 | at most 0.77 mg | No blood sugar dose established (NORD, Eosinophilia-Myalgia Syndrome) (Drugs.com, L-tryptophan) | Not established |
| L-Carnitine HCl | 21 of 21 | at most 0.74 mg | 2-3 g a day (type 2 diabetes studies) (NIH ODS, Carnitine) | Some glucose improvement; more trials needed |
Blend math02
How much of each ingredient is in one dropper?
Only chromium has a printed amount, 7 mcg. The other 21 share 15.47 mg, so an even split gives each about 0.74 mg.
The blend is listed from most to least by weight (21 CFR 101.36 (eCFR)). So the item in place k holds at most 15.47 / k mg. African mango, 2nd, tops out near 7.7 mg. Ginseng, 12th, tops out near 1.3 mg.
Those are ceilings, not real amounts. The true figures are hidden and could be lower.
Even split
About 0.74 mg per item.
Ceiling
15.47 divided by the place.
Studied doses
Often 100 to 400 mg.
Formula groups03
What kinds of ingredients make up the Glyco Defender formula?
The Glyco Defender formula mixes one mineral, 12 plant extracts, 2 other compounds and 7 amino acids.
Plants take the top 12 places, so they hold most of the blend weight. The amino acids sit at the bottom, where each can weigh 1.1 mg or less.
| Group | Lines | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral | 1 | Chromium picolinate |
| Plant extracts | 12 | Maca, African mango, gymnema, ginseng |
| Other compounds | 2 | Raspberry ketones, licorice compound |
| Amino acids | 7 | L-glutamine, GABA, L-carnitine |
Key ingredients04
Which ingredients have the best blood sugar evidence?
Chromium, gymnema and Panax ginseng are the most studied blood sugar support ingredients in the bottle, and their effects were small.
Chromium is the best-known ingredient. Blood sugar supplement trials of it found slight fasting glucose drops in people with diabetes (NIH ODS, Chromium). Gymnema showed a small effect at 200-400 mg (Drugs.com, Gymnema monograph). Ginseng trials saw fasting glucose about 5.6 mg/dL lower, with no A1C change (Shishtar et al., PLoS One 2014).
Read chromium picolinate and gymnema for the detail.
Glyco Defender: from $49 a bottle30 mL · 1, 3 or 6 bottles · free US shipping on 6 · 60-day money-back
See packsPhotos05
Do the ingredient photos show what is in the bottle?
No. The brand photos show whole plants, while the drops hold small amounts of extracts.
The small bottle in the grape seed photo is a prop, not Glyco Defender.
Ingredient photos from the brand
Brand photos of whole plants. The drops hold extracts at tiny amounts, so these show where an ingredient comes from, not how much is inside. (21 CFR 101.36 (eCFR))
Cautions06
Which Glyco Defender ingredients need extra care?
Chromium, gymnema and ginseng may add to diabetes drugs, and guarana and green tea bring caffeine.
Licorice compound and L-tryptophan carry their own warnings at large doses (NCCIH, Licorice Root) (Drugs.com, L-tryptophan). At blend amounts the risk is likely low, but not studied.
- On insulin or a sulfonylurea, ask your doctor first (ADA, Vitamins & Supplements).
- Keep taking prescribed medicine as directed.
Verdict07
Is the Glyco Defender formula worth trying?
The formula is open and easy to take, but its doses are too small to expect much on their own.
Claims are checked against research on claims vs evidence.
Pros
- Every ingredient named
- Chromium at 20% DV
- One dropper a day
Cons
- Blend amounts hidden
- No product trial
- Caffeine amount not printed
FAQ08
Glyco Defender ingredient questions
What is the main ingredient in Glyco Defender?
Maca root leads the blend by weight, so it is the largest share of the 15.47 mg. Chromium picolinate is the only ingredient with a printed amount, 7 mcg per dropper, and it has the most blood sugar research behind it.
How many ingredients are in Glyco Defender?
The label lists 22: chromium plus a blend of 21. The sales page speaks of "20 research-informed botanicals and nutrients", but we follow the label. Water, sweeteners and a preservative are listed apart as other ingredients.
Does Glyco Defender contain berberine or cinnamon?
No. The label lists neither berberine nor cinnamon. Both show up in other blood sugar products, but this formula uses chromium, gymnema, ginseng and 19 other lines instead. Check the full list above before you compare products.
Are Glyco Defender ingredients natural?
Most are plant extracts, but not all. The blend also holds amino acids, raspberry ketones and a licorice compound, and potassium sorbate keeps the drops fresh. The label does not say how each item is sourced or made.
Has the Glyco Defender formula been tested in a study?
No. No trial of the finished drops has been published. The studies cited on the sales page tested single ingredients, alone, at doses far above what one dropper can hold.
Does the Glyco Defender formula have stimulants?
It has two caffeine sources, guarana seed and green tea leaf, and no caffeine amount is printed. At their places in a 15.47 mg blend the caffeine is likely small, but not zero, so count it if you are sensitive.
Who wrote this09
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Learn about our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a U.S. stocking partner for Glyco Defender, not by the manufacturer or the distributor. We are paid when you buy through our order links.
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