Amai Proteins develops svelin, a high-intensity sweetener with minimal metabolic impact

Biotechnology company Amai Proteins Ltd. has developed and tested a new high-intensity sweetener called svelin. Inspired by the serendipity berry (Dioscoreophyllum cumminsii) found in tropical rainforests of West and Central Africa, the sweetener is a modified protein enhanced through artificial intelligence.

In a double-blind, randomized clinical trial published in the journal Food Chemistry, svelin demonstrated significant metabolic stability. The sweetener is approximately 3,500 times sweeter than sucrose by mass, yet it does not significantly alter glucose or insulin responses. Specifically, the study showed a glucose response 31 times lower and an insulin response 81 times lower than that of regular sugar.

Svelin is produced as a white powder that dissolves easily in liquids and can withstand high temperatures. Due to its extreme potency, less than three milligrams are required for a standard serving of iced tea. The company noted that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expressed no additional questions regarding the company's progress.