Mannatech & Glyconutrients

Glyconutrients is a term coined by Mannatech, a multilevel company. Mannatech, based in Coppell, Texas, sells its products through a global network-marketing system throughout the United States and the international markets of Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Taiwan, Denmark and Germany.

According to their website, Mannatech claims, "Medical research has discovered that eight glyconutrient sugars are needed at the cellular level for optimum immune function. Considering that six of these glyconutrients are often lacking in modern diets, Mannatech sought new and better sources of the nutrients. The effort culminated in the Ambrotose (R) complex. Today, 20 patents - including one from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office - have been issued to Mannatech for technology related to the Ambrotose formulation.

Mannatech has more than two dozen glyconutritional products for adults and children that address health and nutrition, sports performance, weight management and skin care." Note by Dr. Sahelian: I have not seen research that indicates "six glyconutrients are lacking in the diet".

I am not against the concept of multilevel marketing if the product is legitimate and is helping people, and many people have made a good income this way. However, more often than not, the people at the bottom of the chain end up losing more money than they make, or spend a lot of their time for little profit, or end up alienating some friends and family members due to their persistence. I personally know several people who spent enormous amounts of time and energy as distributors for little gain. Source.