Ingredients
Sugar Defender Ingredients: All 23 Label Lines, Next to the Research
Sugar Defender ingredients are 23 label lines: chromium picolinate at 0.7 mcg per mL, then a 200 mg blend of 22 plant extracts, compounds and amino acids, led by maca, grape seed and guarana. Blend amounts are hidden. Even the label-order ceilings fall below the doses used in studies, and no trial has tested the drops.
Written by the Sugar Defender label deskUpdated
Overview01
What are the Sugar Defender ingredients?
The Sugar Defender ingredients are one mineral, 12 plant extracts, two other compounds and eight amino acids, all in a water base.
Only chromium has a printed amount. The 22 others share 200 mg per mL, listed from most to least by weight (21 CFR 101.36 (eCFR)).
Maca root leads the blend. L-carnitine closes it. Gymnema sits 8th and Panax ginseng 12th.
The full label is typed out on Sugar Defender supplement facts.
Full list02
What does Sugar Defender contain, line by line?
Each row below is one line of the Sugar Defender ingredients list, with the most one dropper can hold and the daily dose used in research.
The ceiling is 200 mg divided by the ingredient's place. Split evenly, each gets about 9 mg.
| Label line | Place | Per mL (1 dropper) | Amount used in research | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chromium (as Chromium Picolinate) | Chromium line | 0.7 mcg | 200-1,000 mcg a day (NIH ODS, Chromium) | Mixed; small effect in some people with diabetes |
| Maca (Lepidium meyenii) Root Extract | 1 of 22 | at most 200 mg | Studied for other uses, not blood sugar (MSKCC, Maca) | No blood sugar trials |
| Grape (Vitis vinifera) Seed Extract | 2 of 22 | at most 100 mg | Studied for other uses (NCCIH, Grape Seed Extract) | Not established for blood sugar |
| Guarana (Paullinia cupana) Seed Extract | 3 of 22 | at most 67 mg | Caffeine source (MSKCC, Guarana) (FDA, Caffeine: how much is too much?) | Not a blood sugar ingredient |
| African Mango (Irvingia gabonensis) Fruit Extract | 4 of 22 | at most 50 mg | 150 mg twice a day (300 mg) (MSKCC, Irvingia gabonensis (African mango)) (NIH ODS, Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss) | Weak, small trials |
| Eleutherococcus Senticosus Root Extract | 5 of 22 | at most 40 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 22 | at most 33 mg | No blood sugar dose established (NCCIH, Astragalus) | Not established |
| Green Tea (Camellia sinensis) Leaf Extract | 7 of 22 | at most 29 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 22 | at most 25 mg | 200-400 mg a day of extract (Drugs.com, Gymnema monograph) | Small trials; small effect |
| Coleus Forskohlii Root Extract | 9 of 22 | at most 22 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 |
| Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract | 10 of 22 | at most 20 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 Extract | 11 of 22 | at most 18 mg | No studied dose found (FDA, Grapefruit juice and drugs) | Not established |
| Panax Ginseng Root Extract | 12 of 22 | at most 17 mg | About 100 mg to 20 g (NCCIH, Asian Ginseng) (Shishtar et al., PLoS One 2014) | Modest drop in fasting glucose; no A1C effect |
| Raspberry Ketones | 13 of 22 | at most 15 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 22 | at most 14 mg | About 15-45 g a day (sports studies) (NIH ODS, Exercise & Athletic Performance) | Not supported for performance |
| L-Tyrosine | 15 of 22 | at most 13 mg | No verified dose source | Not established |
| L-Arginine Base | 16 of 22 | at most 12 mg | 2-20 g a day (sports studies) (MSKCC, Arginine) (NIH ODS, Exercise & Athletic Performance) | Little or no performance benefit |
| Beta-Alanine | 17 of 22 | at most 12 mg | 1.6-6.4 g a day (NIH ODS, Exercise & Athletic Performance) | Mixed (exercise only) |
| Monoammonium Glycyrrhizinate | 18 of 22 | at most 11 mg | No studied dose found (NCCIH, Licorice Root) | Not established |
| GABA (Gamma aminobutyric acid) | 19 of 22 | at most 11 mg | No verified dose source | Not established |
| L-Ornithine HCl (printed 'L-Omithine') | 20 of 22 | at most 10 mg | No verified dose source | Not established |
| L-Tryptophan | 21 of 22 | at most 10 mg | No blood sugar dose established (NORD, Eosinophilia-Myalgia Syndrome) (Drugs.com, L-tryptophan) | Not established |
| L-Carnitine Base | 22 of 22 | at most 9 mg | 2-3 g a day (type 2 diabetes studies) (NIH ODS, Carnitine) | Some glucose improvement; more trials needed |
The count03
Does Sugar Defender have 23 or 24 ingredients?
The label has 23 lines. The sales page claims "24 proven ingredients" and names only eight of them (Sugar Defender sales page).
We follow the bottle. The five liquid-base items, water to xylitol, are not counted in either figure.
Groups04
How do the Sugar Defender contents group together?
The Sugar Defender contents fall into four groups: chromium, 12 plant extracts, two other compounds and eight amino acids.
Filter by group below. Each name links to its full profile.
- 1Chromium (as Chromium Picolinate)0.7 mcg per mL · 2% DV
- 2Maca (Lepidium meyenii) Root ExtractBlend place 1 · at most 200 mg per mL
- 3Grape (Vitis vinifera) Seed ExtractBlend place 2 · at most 100 mg per mL
- 4Guarana (Paullinia cupana) Seed ExtractBlend place 3 · at most 67 mg per mL
- 5African Mango (Irvingia gabonensis) Fruit ExtractBlend place 4 · at most 50 mg per mL
- 6Eleutherococcus Senticosus Root ExtractBlend place 5 · at most 40 mg per mL
- 7Astragalus Membranaceus Root ExtractBlend place 6 · at most 33 mg per mL
- 8Green Tea (Camellia sinensis) Leaf ExtractBlend place 7 · at most 29 mg per mL
- 9Gymnema Sylvestre Leaf ExtractBlend place 8 · at most 25 mg per mL
- 10Coleus Forskohlii Root ExtractBlend place 9 · at most 22 mg per mL
- 11Capsicum Annuum Fruit ExtractBlend place 10 · at most 20 mg per mL
- 12Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) Seed ExtractBlend place 11 · at most 18 mg per mL
- 13Panax Ginseng Root ExtractBlend place 12 · at most 17 mg per mL
- 14Raspberry KetonesBlend place 13 · at most 15 mg per mL
- 15L-GlutamineBlend place 14 · at most 14 mg per mL
- 16L-TyrosineBlend place 15 · at most 13 mg per mL
- 17L-Arginine BaseBlend place 16 · at most 12 mg per mL
- 18Beta-AlanineBlend place 17 · at most 12 mg per mL
- 19Monoammonium GlycyrrhizinateBlend place 18 · at most 11 mg per mL
- 20GABA (Gamma aminobutyric acid)Blend place 19 · at most 11 mg per mL
- 21L-Ornithine HCl (printed 'L-Omithine')Blend place 20 · at most 10 mg per mL
- 22L-TryptophanBlend place 21 · at most 10 mg per mL
- 23L-Carnitine BaseBlend place 22 · at most 9 mg per mL
From the Supplement Facts panel on the label. Places 1-22 make up the blend, listed from most to least by weight (21 CFR 101.36 (eCFR)). Other ingredients (deionized water, organic citrus extract, natural flavors, stevia, xylitol) are not counted.
Sugar Defender: from $49 a bottle60 mL · 2, 3 or 6 bottles · free US shipping on 3 or 6 · 60-day money-back guarantee
See packsEvidence05
Which Sugar Defender ingredients have the most research?
Chromium, gymnema and Panax ginseng have the most blood sugar research, and all three show small effects at far larger doses.
- Chromium: 200-1,000 mcg a day in trials, mixed results (NIH ODS, Chromium)
- Gymnema: 200-400 mg of extract, a small fasting drop (Drugs.com, Gymnema monograph)
- Ginseng: about 5.6 mg/dL lower fasting glucose, no A1C change (Shishtar et al., PLoS One 2014)
Cautions06
Which ingredients need a caution?
Three need a flag: caffeine from guarana and green tea, xylitol for dog owners, and herbs that may add to diabetes medicines.
Some supplements cause lows with diabetes drugs (ADA, Vitamins & Supplements). Never change a prescription for a supplement. See side effects.
The liquid07
What else is in Sugar Defender drops?
The base is deionized water, organic citrus extract, natural flavors, stevia and xylitol.
No preservative is listed. Xylitol can harm dogs (FDA, Paws Off Xylitol). Dosing is on how to take Sugar Defender.
FAQ08
Questions about Sugar Defender ingredients
Is Sugar Defender vegan or gluten free?
The label makes neither claim. The listed ingredients are plant extracts, amino acids, water and sweeteners, but sources for the amino acids and flavors are not given. If you need to be sure, ask the order desk before you buy.
Does Sugar Defender contain sugar?
No sugar is listed. The drops are sweetened with stevia (steviol glycosides) and xylitol, with organic citrus extract and natural flavors for taste. No calorie or carbohydrate line is printed.
Which ingredient is there the most of in Sugar Defender?
Maca root extract. It is first in the 200 mg blend, and blends list parts from most to least by weight. So maca holds at least about 9 mg per mL; the exact amount is not printed.
Is the African mango in Sugar Defender the seed or the fruit?
The label says fruit extract, written "Irvingia gabonesis". Many African mango products use the seed, so check the source when you compare studies. It sits 4th, at most 50 mg per mL.
Are the Sugar Defender ingredients natural?
Most are plant extracts, but several lines are amino acids and compounds such as raspberry ketones and a licorice salt. Natural does not always mean safe, and supplements can interact with medicines (NIH ODS, Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know).
Why are the herb amounts not listed?
The herbs sit in a proprietary blend, which may show only the total weight, 200 mg, and the order (21 CFR 101.36 (eCFR)). So you can work out ceilings, not exact doses.
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 . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by Isugardefender, a Sugar Defender U.S. shop, not by the manufacturer or the distributor. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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Check your medicines first, then pick a pack. Three or six bottles ship free in the US and cost less per bottle, and every pack carries the 60-day money-back guarantee.
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- 60-day money-back guarantee
- Ships from the U.S.; free on 3 or 6
