Ingredient profile
Maca, grape seed, astragalus in Glyco Harmony
Glyco Harmony's blend opens with maca root and grape seed, lists astragalus root sixth and grapefruit fruit eleventh. None of the four has solid blood sugar evidence. Maca leads by weight, but its real amount is not printed. The main flags are drug interactions: astragalus with immune drugs and grapefruit with some statins and heart medicines.
Written by the Glyco Harmony research deskUpdated
01Label facts
What does the label say about maca, grape seed, astragalus and grapefruit?
Four plant extracts spread through the blend, at lines 1, 2, 6 and 11.
The panel reads "Maca (Lepidium meyenii) Root Extract", "Grape (Vitis vinifera) Seed Extract", "Astragalus Root Extract" and "Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) Fruit Extract". Each sits inside the 200 mg blend with no weight of its own.
| On the label | In 1 mL | Studied at | Evidence | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maca (Lepidium meyenii) Root ExtractLepidium meyenii, an Andean root vegetable | Blend line 1 of 22, share not disclosed | Studied for other uses, not blood sugar | No blood sugar trials | Safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding is unclear. (MSKCC, Maca) |
| Grape (Vitis vinifera) Seed ExtractVitis vinifera seed | Blend line 2 of 22, share not disclosed | Studied for cholesterol and blood pressure | Not established for blood sugar | Usually well tolerated. (NCCIH, Grape Seed Extract) |
| Astragalus Root ExtractAstragalus membranaceus root | Blend line 6 of 22, share not disclosed | No blood sugar dose established | Not established | Avoid with autoimmune disease or immune-suppressing drugs. (NCCIH, Astragalus) |
| Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) Fruit ExtractCitrus paradisi fruit | Blend line 11 of 22, share not disclosed | No studied dose found | Not established | Grapefruit can interact with some statins and other drugs. (FDA, Grapefruit juice and drugs) |
The roots and powder in the top photo are maca, from the brand's stock set. The photo is not the extract in the bottle.
02Label order
What does it tell you that maca comes first in the blend?
Only that maca weighs the most of the 22 lines. The order sets limits, not exact amounts.
Blend lines must run from most to least by weight (21 CFR 101.36 (eCFR)). The first line has to be at least the average share, about 9 mg per 1 mL. It could be almost the whole 200 mg. Lower lines face a ceiling instead.
Each ceiling is 200 mg divided by the line number. Real amounts are likely lower. Our post on proprietary blend math works through every line.
Maca leading the list is a little surprising. It is not the herb ads link to blood sugar. Its research sits elsewhere, as the next table shows.
03Research
What does research say about these four extracts?
Limited evidence for each, and none of it about blood sugar control except one low-quality astragalus review.
| Extract | Studied for | Evidence | Blood sugar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maca root (MSKCC, Maca) | Sexual function, menopause symptoms | A few small trials, rated limited | Not described |
| Grape seed (NCCIH, Grape Seed Extract) | LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure | Possible modest effects, not definitive | Not established |
| Astragalus root (NCCIH, Astragalus) | Many conditions | Not enough reliable evidence for any | A 2024 review of mostly weak studies saw added glucose lowering with metformin |
| Grapefruit fruit (FDA, Grapefruit juice and drugs) | Known for drug interactions | No studied dose as a supplement | Not established |
The astragalus finding is the only one near blood sugar. It came from weak studies and from astragalus given with metformin. It does not show a few milligrams in a drop doing the same. The NCCIH view still holds: no herbal supplement has reliable evidence for controlling diabetes (NCCIH, Diabetes and Dietary Supplements).
04Grapefruit
Why does grapefruit extract raise drug interaction questions?
Grapefruit can block a gut enzyme that breaks down some drugs. The size of the effect from a small extract is unknown.
The FDA warns that grapefruit juice blocks an enzyme called CYP3A4 in the gut (FDA, Grapefruit juice and drugs). Some drugs then build up to levels that are too high. The warning covers drug types such as:
- Some statins for cholesterol
- Some blood pressure drugs
- Some anti-anxiety and heart rhythm drugs
- Some transplant drugs
Not every drug in these groups is affected. The FDA research is about juice, and the drops hold an extract that weighs at most about 18 mg per mL. Nobody has tested whether that small amount matters. Since the answer is unknown, ask your pharmacist about your exact medicines before you start.
05Brand photos
Are the plants in the brand photos the ones on the label?
Not always. One brand image surrounds the bottle with herbs the label does not list.
The brand's hero scene places the bottle among bitter melon, cinnamon sticks, ginger and leafy herbs. Those are popular in blood sugar marketing. None of them appears on the label.
Maca, grape seed, astragalus and grapefruit are the real ingredients on this profile, yet none of them shows up in that scene. Photos like this set a mood. They do not tell you what is inside.
When an image and the label disagree, trust the label. Our label explained page reads every line word for word.
Glyco Harmony: from $36 a bottle60 mL drops · 2, 4 or 8 bottles · free US shipping on 4 and 8 · 60-day money-back
See packs06Cautions
Who should be careful with maca, astragalus and grapefruit?
People with autoimmune disease, those on immune or grapefruit-sensitive drugs, and anyone pregnant or nursing.
Autoimmune disease
The NCCIH says people with autoimmune diseases should avoid astragalus. It may also interact with drugs that calm the immune system (NCCIH, Astragalus).
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Maca may not be safe in pregnancy or breastfeeding (MSKCC, Maca). Little is known about grape seed in pregnancy (NCCIH, Grape Seed Extract). The label also asks you to see a physician.
Hormone-sensitive cancer
Memorial Sloan Kettering advises people with hormone-sensitive cancers to talk to a provider before using maca (MSKCC, Maca).
Grapefruit-sensitive drugs
Some statins, blood pressure and heart rhythm drugs are affected by grapefruit (FDA, Grapefruit juice and drugs). Ask a pharmacist to check your list.
That goes for metformin too, even though one astragalus review studied the pair. Bring the bottle to your next visit. The who should use it page lists the other groups to check.
07Our take
Do these four extracts make Glyco Harmony worth buying?
They add bulk to the blend more than proof. Judge the product on its whole formula.
Pros
- Grape seed is generally well tolerated
- Maca has a long history as a food
- All four are named clearly on the label
Cons
- No blood sugar trials for maca or grape seed
- Astragalus is off limits for some people
- Grapefruit adds an interaction question
The heaviest line in the blend is an herb with no glucose research. That says a lot about the formula's design.
What other Glyco Harmony ingredients can you read about?
08FAQ
Glyco Harmony questions people ask
Does maca root help blood sugar?
There is no good evidence that it does. Memorial Sloan Kettering lists only a few small human trials of maca, mostly on sexual function and menopause symptoms, and does not describe blood sugar benefits (MSKCC, Maca). Maca leads the Glyco Harmony blend by weight, but that ranking says nothing about effects.
Is grape seed extract good for cholesterol?
It may help a little. Reviews of small studies suggest modest effects on LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and diastolic blood pressure, but the NCCIH says the findings are not definitive (NCCIH, Grape Seed Extract). Glyco Harmony does not print how much grape seed it holds, and it is not a cholesterol product.
Can I take astragalus if I have lupus or rheumatoid arthritis?
The NCCIH says people with autoimmune diseases should avoid astragalus (NCCIH, Astragalus). Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are autoimmune conditions, and Glyco Harmony lists astragalus root sixth in its blend. Talk with your rheumatologist before using it, especially if you take a drug that calms the immune system.
Can I take Glyco Harmony with a statin?
Ask your pharmacist first. The blend lists grapefruit fruit extract, and the FDA warns that grapefruit can raise levels of some statins (FDA, Grapefruit juice and drugs). The extract is small, capped near 18 mg per dropper, and its effect is untested. Not every statin is affected, so your pharmacist can check yours.
Does astragalus work with metformin?
One 2024 review of mostly low-quality studies suggested astragalus added some glucose lowering alongside metformin (NCCIH, Astragalus). That is not strong proof, and those studies did not use Glyco Harmony. Any added effect could also raise the chance of a low, so tell your doctor before combining them.
Is maca safe while breastfeeding?
It may not be. Memorial Sloan Kettering says maca may not be safe in pregnancy or breastfeeding (MSKCC, Maca), and the Glyco Harmony label asks nursing mothers to consult a physician first. Since maca is the largest line in the blend, ask your doctor before using the drops while nursing.
09Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the official sales page and linked NIH, CDC, FDA, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial policy and how we check reviews. This website is run by a U.S. stocking partner, not by the manufacturer or the label's distributor. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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