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Evaluation of the Pharmacotherapeutic Efficacy of Garcinia cambogia plus Amorphophallus konjac for the Treatment of Obesity
Abstract
Hydroxycitric acid (HCA), the main compound of Garcinia cambogia extract, is a competitive blocker of ATP-citrate-lyase, presenting a potential inhibition of fatty acid biosynthesis. Glucomannan fibers, abundant in Amorphophallus konjac, seem to reduce the absorption kinetics of dietary fat. Therefore, the aim of this double-blind randomized study was to evaluate the pharmacotherapeutic efficacy of standardized extracts of G. cambogia (52.4% HCA) plus A. konjac (94.9% glucomannan) in the treatment of obesity. Fifty-eight obese subjects (BMI 30.0-39.9 kg/m(2)) were assigned to the placebo group (n = 26) or the treatment group (n = 32); no dietary restrictions were applied. Over a 12-week period, subjects were given daily doses of either Garcinia (2.4 g) plus Konjac (1.5 g) or placebo prior to their main meals (3 times/day). Before the start of treatment, and every 4 weeks thereafter, the following were recorded: height, weight, circumferences and body composition, resting energy expenditure (REE), lipid profile and glucose levels. The treatment had no significant effect on anthropometric parameters, REE, triglycerides or glucose levels. However, a significant reduction was observed in total cholesterol (-32.0 +/- 35.1 mg/dL) and LDL-c levels (-28.7 +/- 32.7 mg/dL) in the treated group, the final levels being significantly lower than those of the placebo group (p = 0.008 and p = 0.020, respectively). The results obtained suggest that the treatment had a significant hypocholesterolemic effect, without influencing the anthropometric or calorimetric parameters tested.
... Rats fed the highest amount of extract, and therefore receiving the highest dose of HCA (154 mmol HCA/kg diet), significantly decreased epididymal fat accumulation, compared to the other groups. Table 1 presents a summary of the results obtained in 20 reported intervention studies in humans [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32]. In 12 studies, statistically significant reductions in body weight were observed [14,15,[18][19][20][21][22][26][27][28]30,31]. ...
... In 12 studies, statistically significant reductions in body weight were observed [14,15,[18][19][20][21][22][26][27][28]30,31]. Conversely, the supplementation turned out to be ineffective in the remaining studies [13,16,17,[23][24][25]29,32]. In the studies where significant weight loss was observed, the average value was between 2 and 6 kg in 2-4 months, with the exception of one where a loss of 14 kg was induced in 6 months [31]. ...
... In the studies where significant weight loss was observed, the average value was between 2 and 6 kg in 2-4 months, with the exception of one where a loss of 14 kg was induced in 6 months [31]. Interestingly, in 11 studies [19][20][21]23,24,26,27,[29][30][31][32], significant reductions in other parameters, such as waist and hip circumference, triglycerides, cholesterol and glucose were also observed regardless of body weight loss. It was specified in the vast majority of the studies that the supplement should be consumed approximately half an hour before meals. ...
Nowadays, obesity is one of the great nutritional problems facing public health. The prevalence of this pathology has increased in a worrying way over recent years, currently reaching epidemic proportions. In this context, nutritional supplements are presented as a therapeutic alternative to which more and more people are turning to. Nutritional supplements to lose weight based on the Garcinia plant, specifically on Garcinia cambogia, are commonly used. The active principle of this plant to which these properties have been attributed, is hydroxycitric acid (HCA). The aim of the present review is to gather reported data concerning the effectiveness of nutritional supplements based on Garcinia extracts on weight loss and their possible negative effects. Contradictory results have been observed regarding the effectiveness of the supplements. While statistically significant weight loss was observed in some studies, no changes were found in others. Regarding safety, although Garcinia supplements have been revealed as safe in the vast majority of the studies carried out in animal models and humans, some cases of hepatotoxicity, serotonin toxicity and mania have been reported. In conclusion, the results suggest that Garcinia-based supplements could be effective in short-term weight loss, although the data are not conclusive. In addition, the safety of the complement should be further studied.
... This kind of treatment is based on the ranges reported by previous studies that produced a safe reduction in weight although in short periods of time (Biancardi et al., 1989a;Birketvedt et al., 2005b;Cairella and Marchini, 1995;Girola et al., 1996;Preuss et al., 2005;Sood et al., 2008a;Thom, 2000;Toromanyan et al., 2007;Vasques et al., 2008;Vido et al., 1993;Walsh et al., 1984). ...
... Patients consumed food with lipid composition similar to that ingested during the months the study took place. Glucose concentrations, cholesterol and triglycerides levels were measured using a colorimetric enzyme assay method (CEPA® kits -MBiolog Diagnósticos Ltda.) as previously described (Vasques et al., 2008). ...
... In agreement with previous results (Vasques et al., 2008), it was found that glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol levels were reduced in obese patients under GC and GNN therapy. Cholesterol was reduced significantly (p < 0.01) at 3 and 6 months since study onset (Fig. 4A) without differences between 3 and 6 months. ...
Background
Nowadays, overweight and obesity are worldwide epidemics associated with the development of diseases such as diabetes, dyslipidemias, hypertension and even cancer. Treatments for these conditions are not very successful and therefore looking for new strategies is imperative. Garcinia cambogia (GC) is used in Asia and Africa for hypolipidemic, antidiabetic and anti-obesity purposes while Glucomannan (GNN) is a diet supplement used to control weight in Japan and China. Here, the efficacy of GC and GNN in weight reduction and the impact on metabolic status of obese/overweight patients for 3 and 6 months was tested.
Material and Methods
This study was a pre-post test study. Adults> 18 years old (n = 136) with a body mass indexin excess of 25 were recruited for this study. These patients also suffered from diabetes mellitus type 2, dyslipidemias, hypertension and their combinations. They were treated with 1 g/day of both GC and GNN for 3 and 6 months
Results
The treatment reduced weight, visceral fat, fat mass, increased metabolic basal rate and was also effective reducing levels of triglycerides, glucose and cholesterol compared to baseline. There were not any adverse effects reported. Reduction in weight were independent of sex, age and previously reported condition.
Conclusions
It was concluded that treatment with GC and GNN is useful in the long term to reduce weight and improve the metabolic status of overweight/obese patients.
... After this final full-text review, 14 articles were left to analyze and definitively review the effect of GC on lipid profile. One study was excluded because it had the same population as another (Hayamizu et al., 2003), and one study was excluded because it used a combined intervention (Vasques et al., 2008) (Figure 1). ...
... Supplementing with GC has also been associated with an increase in HDL concentrations. Numerous human studies have demonstrated that the consumption of HCA for several weeks can lead to improvements in the lipid profile, including an elevation in HDL levels (Arefhosseini et al., 2022;Lu et al., 2012;Vasques et al., 2008). Arefhosseini et al. (2022) showed that consumption of 312.5 mg of GC bark leaf extract in obese and overweight women with NAFLD causes an increase in F I G U R E 2 Forest plot detailing weighted mean difference and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the effect of Garcinia cambogia on total cholesterol. ...
Garcinia cambogia (GC) has antioxidant, anticancer, antihistamine, and antimicrobial properties. To determine the effect of GC on lipid profiles, a systematic review and meta‐analysis was carried out. Up to February 9, 2023, six electronic databases (Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar) were searched at any time without limitations. Trials examining the impact of GC on serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) in adults were included. The total effect was shown as a weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) in a random‐effects meta‐analysis approach. This systematic review and meta‐analysis included 14 trials involving 623 subjects. Plasma levels of TC (WMD: −6.76 mg/dL; CI: −12.39 to −0.59, p ‐value = 0.032), and TG (WMD: −24.21 mg/dL; CI: −37.84 to −10.58, p < 0.001) were significantly reduced after GC use, and plasma HDL‐C (WMD: 2.95 mg/dL; CI: 2.01 to 3.89, p < 0.001) levels increased. low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (WMD: −1.15 mg/dL; CI: −16.08 to 13.78, p ‐value = 0.880) were not significantly affected. The effects of lowering TC and TG were more pronounced for periods longer than 8 weeks. Consuming GC has a positive impact on TC, TG, and HDL‐C concentrations. The limitations of this study include the short duration of analyzed interventions and significant heterogeneity. Nevertheless, it is imperative to conduct well‐structured, and high‐quality long‐term trials to comprehensively evaluate the clinical effectiveness of GC on lipid profile, and validate these findings.
... Garcinia cambogiaGarcinia cambogia or Malabar tamarind was examined in 11 studies (n = 967), six as single-herb products[46][47][48][49][50][51] and five as combination preparations.41,43,[52][53][54] Dosages of G. cambogia were reported in nine studies, and ranged from 300 mg to 4667 mg daily, delivered over 8 to 17 weeks. ...
... Of the five studies reporting on adverse events, all reported no significant differences in adverse events between the intervention and placebo groups.41,43,46,49,50 Of the seven studies reporting on treatment-related adverse effects, five reported no effects, 41,47,51-53 one reported no difference between the intervention and placebo groups,54 and one reported increased unpleasant gastrointestinal effects of the intervention compared to placebo (affecting 8 vs 0 participants).43 ...
Aim:
The complementary medicines industry provides many herbal medicines that purportedly assist in weight loss, often with unclear evidence supporting efficacy and safety. To update available evidence, a systematic review and meta-analysis of herbal medicines for weight loss was conducted.
Methods:
Four electronic databases (Medline, Embase, Cinahl and Web of Science) were searched from inception until August 2018. Fifty-four randomised placebo-controlled trials of healthy adults with overweight or obesity were identified. Meta-analyses were conducted for herbal medicines with ≥4 studies available. Weight differences of ≥2.5 kg were considered clinically significant.
Results:
As a single agent, only Phaseolus vulgaris resulted in a statistically significant weight loss compared to placebo, though not considered clinically significant. No effect was seen for Camellia sinensis or Garcinia cambogia. Statistically, but not clinically, significant differences were observed for combination preparations containing Camellia sinensis, Phaseolus vulgaris or Ephedra sinica. Of the herbal medicines trialled in ≤3 randomised controlled trials, statistically and clinically significant weight loss compared to placebo was reported for Irvingia gabonensis, Cissus quadrangularis, and Sphaeranthus indicus combined with Garcinia mangostana, among others, but these findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the small number of studies, generally poor methodological quality and poor reporting of herbal medicine interventions. Most appeared safe for consumption over the short duration of the studies (commonly ≤12 weeks). Some warrant further investigation to determine effect size, dosage and long-term safety.
Conclusion:
There is currently insufficient evidence to recommend any of these herbal medicines for weight loss. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
... Patients consumed food with lipid composition similar to that ingested during the months the study took place. Glucose concentrations, cholesterol and triglycerides levels were measured using a colorimetric enzyme assay method (CEPA® kits -MBiolog Diagnósticos Ltda.) as previously described [31]. ...
... Here, we wanted to expand previous studies in which treatment with GC and GNN were combined to reduce obesity [31]. In this previous study, that was a double blinded randomized study with a placebo and treated group, it was reported that GC and GNN administration reduced cholesterol levels but without affecting anthropometric or calorimetric values. ...
Background:
Overweight and obesity are considered major health problems that contribute to increase mortality and quality of life. Both conditions have a high prevalence across the world reaching epidemic numbers. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of the administration of Garcinia cambogia (GC) and Glucomannan (GNN) on long-term weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
Methods:
Prospective, not-randomized controlled intervention trial was conducted. We treated 214 subjects with overweight or obesity with GC and GNN (500 mg twice a day, each) for 6 months evaluating weight, fat mass, visceral fat, basal metabolic rate, and lipid and glucose blood profiles comparing them with basal values. Some patients were carriers of polymorphisms PLIN4 -11482G > A-, fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) -rs9939609 A/T- and β-adrenergic receptor 3 (ADRB3) -Trp64Arg.
Results:
Treatment produced weight loss, reducing fat mass, visceral fat, lipid and blood glucose profiles while increasing basal metabolic rate. Results were independent of sex, age or suffering from hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2 or dyslipidemia and were attenuated in carriers of PLIN4, FTO, Trp64Arg polymorphisms.
Conclusions:
Administration of GC and GNN reduce weight and improve lipid and glucose blood profiles in people with overweight or obesity, although the presence of polymorphisms PLIN4, FTO and ADRB3 might hinder in some degree these effects. ISRCTN78807585, 19 September 2017, retrospective study.
... Another interesting aspect covered by the literature is the possible synergistic action of KGM and some cholesterollowering agents such as chitosan (indigestible aminopolysaccharide extracted from the exoskeleton of arthropods), plant sterols, or hydroxycitric acid (found in Garcinia cambogia) in the lipid profile and cholesterol reduction. 55,100,101 In the study carried out with hydroxycitric acid (a competitive blocker of ATP-citrate-lyase), a reduction in total cholesterol and LDL-C levels comparable to those reported for statins (currently considered the benchmark treatment for hyperlypidemia) was observed in the treated subjects fed daily doses of hydroxycitric acid (2.4 g) plus KGM (1.5 g) for 12 weeks. 101 Prebiotics, such as MOS, were also successfully applied in the field of the elaboration of functional feeds for the aquaculture industry. ...
... 55,100,101 In the study carried out with hydroxycitric acid (a competitive blocker of ATP-citrate-lyase), a reduction in total cholesterol and LDL-C levels comparable to those reported for statins (currently considered the benchmark treatment for hyperlypidemia) was observed in the treated subjects fed daily doses of hydroxycitric acid (2.4 g) plus KGM (1.5 g) for 12 weeks. 101 Prebiotics, such as MOS, were also successfully applied in the field of the elaboration of functional feeds for the aquaculture industry. 102−108 For example, in a recent work, Akter et al. 69 evaluated the effect of MOS dietary supplementation on growth, digestive enzyme activities, gut morphology, and microbiota in striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus), concluding that even the lowest concentrations of these oligosaccharides (0.2%) increased the digestive enzyme activities and the levels of lactic acid bacteria in the gut. ...
Glucomannans (GM) are polymers which can be found in natural resources, such as tubers, bulbs, roots, and in both hard- and softwoods. In fact, mannan-based polysaccharides represent the largest hemicellulose fraction in softwoods. In addition to their structural functions and their role as energy reserve, they have been assessed for their healthy applications, including their role as new source of prebiotics. This article summarizes the scientific literature regarding the manufacture and the functional properties of GM and their hydrolysis products with a special focus on their prebiotic activity.
... Many studies on common HP are used worldwide for their effects and clinical applications. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8] By evaluating local information about medicinal plants used traditionally every day, products in the form of drugs (capsules, tablets) that are simple to dose and use are developed with today's pharmaceutical technology opportunities. It has been reported that some synthetic molecules, such as sibutramine, are added to their formulations to provide rapid weight loss, and these may, at times, lead to heart attacks and even fatality. ...
... The cholesterol-lowering action of Garcinia cambogia and A. konjac combined with their apparent low toxicity suggests that the combined use of substances may significantly benefit the treatment of obesity-related dyslipidemia by promoting weight loss, potentially reducing fatty acid biosynthesis, increasing water absorption, and establishing highly viscous solutions. Its action may have been more effective due to higher stomach volumes and a decreased rate of stomach emptying, which would also alter the kinetics of duodenal fat absorption (Figure 4) [103]. meal absorption in the small intestine can lead to attenuated postprandial glucose and insulin surges in individuals who are overweight or obese. ...
The genus Amorphophallus belongs to the family Araceae. Plants belonging to this genus are available worldwide and have been used in traditional medicines since ancient times, mainly in Ayurveda and Unani medical practices. Amorphophallus species are an abundant source of polyphenolic compounds; these are accountable for their pharmacological properties, such as their analgesic, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer, antiobesity, and immunomodulatory effects, as well as their ability to prevent gastrointestinal disturbance and reduce blood glucose. Moreover, Amorphophallus species contain numerous other classes of chemical compounds, such as alkaloids, steroids, fats and fixed oils, tannins, proteins, and carbohydrates, each of which contributes to the pharmacological effects for the treatment of acute rheumatism, tumors, lung swelling, asthma, vomiting, abdominal pain, and so on. Additionally, Amorphophallus species have been employed in numerous herbal formulations and pharmaceutical applications. There has been no extensive review conducted on the Amorphophallus genus as of yet, despite the fact that several experimental studies are being published regularly discussing these plants’ pharmacological properties. So, this review discusses in detail the pharmacological properties of Amorphophallus species. We also discuss phytochemical constituents in the Amorphophallus species and their ethnomedicinal uses and toxicological profiles.
... HCA) found the suppression of MDI-induced adipogenesis and mitotic clonal expansion via the modulation of p90RSK and Stat3 [43]. Several clinical trials with GC alone or combined with other supplements in obese or overweight subjects reported decreases in triglycerides, cholesterol, body weight, body fat, and/or in the visceral adiposity index [44][45][46][47][48][49][50]. However, a review of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials evaluating GC alone found conflicting results regarding weight loss and identified several weaknesses in the study designs [42]. ...
Herbal and dietary supplement (HDS) use has grown exponentially in the United States. Unfortunately, the incidence of HDS-related liver injury has proportionally increased. Despite the potential for certain HDSs to cause clinically significant liver injury, they are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Recent efforts have been made to regulate HDSs but are far removed from the scrutiny of prescription medications. Scant literature exists on HDSs and their risks of causing liver injury. In this comprehensive review, we examine trends of HDS use in the United States and the pathophysiologic mechanisms of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) of certain HDSs. Finally, we review usage rates; benefits, if any; purported pathophysiology of DILI; and propensity for progression to fulminant hepatic failure of nine HDSs linked to clinically significant DILI.
... High price of porang could be related to its function as one important source of functional food, due to the presence of high content of glucomannan in corm of porang [3; 4]. Glucomannan contained in corm of porang was reported to play a role in maintaining and relieving some human illness [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]. ...
Porang ( Amorphophallus muelleri Blume) is usually cultivated on the field under the tree as natural shading. Porang can also be grown on a pot containing limited amount of growth media. The present research work was carried to evaluate the minimum amount of growth media required for optimum growth and corm yield. The study used bulbils (10 g/bulbil and 20 g/bulbil) and corm (+ 15 g/corm) sown on growth media of 2.5 kg, 5.0 kg and 7.5 kg/pot as treatments. Each treatment was arranged in completely randomized design and was replicated 3 times. Plant height, plant diameter, shoot dry weight, diameter and thickness of corm and fresh weight of corm were measured to evaluate the influence of the treatments on growth and corm yield of porang. The plant growth of porang measured as plant height, plant diameter, shoot dry weight was improved when the planting materials were planted on bigger size of growth media. Bigger size of bulbil caused better growth of porang on each growth medium. The effect of plant materials and the size of growth media on porang growth was in parallel to its effect on corm yield measured as corm diameter, corm thickness and fresh weight of corm. The result of the present study suggests to use bigger bulbil and bigger size of growth media when planted on polyethylene bag. Corm as planting material was better than bulbil because less size of corm produced similar plant growth and corm yield compared to bigger size of bulbil. Therefore, the use of corm as planting material is more favorable to bulbil.
... Konjac (Amorphophallus konjac K. Koch ex N.E.Br) is a perennial, herbaceous species extensively planted in Southeast Asia and Africa (Vasques et al., 2008). The corm of konjac is rich in glucomannan, a neutral polysaccharide with excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability. ...
Bacterial soft rot is a destructive disease that restricts the development of the konjac (Amorphophallus konjac K. Koch ex N.E.Br) industry. The objective of this study was to investigate how soft rot disease affects bacterial communities associated with the roots of konjac plants growing under a pure Robinia pseudoacacia plantation. Three sampling sites affected by different degrees of soft rot damage were selected based on the disease incidence [0%, non-diseased (ND); 4.2%, moderately diseased (MD); and 18.6%, highly diseased (HD)]. The variation in soil and root bacterial diversity and community composition among the sampling sites was determined by Illumina HiSeq sequencing of the V3–V4 hypervariable regions of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. The results showed that the contents of soil organic matter and available nutrients (N, P, and K) increased with increasing damage degree, whereas higher damage degree resulted in lower soil pH and enzymatic activity (sucrase, urease, catalase, and polyphenol oxidase). The composition of root-associated bacterial communities differed among the three sampling sites. Proteobacteria was the most dominant bacterial phylum in all soil and root samples. Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Rhizobium, and Streptomyces were the most abundant in all samples from the ND sites, whereas Pectobacterium carotovorum and Serratia were predominant in the samples from the MD and HD sites. The abundance and alpha diversity of root-associated bacteria were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the ND sites than in the diseased sites. The results suggested pronounced differences in the abundance, alpha diversity, and community composition of bacteria associated with the roots of konjac plants affected by different degrees of soft rot damage. Such differences in bacterial community structure were related to dynamic changes in soil variables, especially soil available potassium content, sucrase activity, and urease activity. Analysis of the dominant root-associated bacterial taxa offers an approach to predict the damage degree due to soft rot in konjac and provides evidence for the prevention of this soil-borne disease via microecological regulation.
... Thus, porang cultivation is a very promising business in the future. Derivative products such as shirataki rice are in great demand by the public (Widjaja et al. 2014), since the Amorphophallus tubers act as a "dietary fiber" which may lower blood cholesterol levels (Fang and Wu 2004;Vasques et al. 2008;Chua et al. 2010;Impaprasert et al. 2014;Behera and Ray 2017). ...
Wahidah BF, Afiati N, Jumari. 2021. Community knowledge of Amorphophallus muelleri Blume: Cultivation and utilization in Central Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 22: 2731-2738. Porang (Amorphophallus muelleri Blume) is a member of the Araceae edible family currently popular on Java island, Indonesia. In the last five years, this plant which has high economic value due to its various benefits as a food plant and medicinal plant has been cultivated in Central Java. This study aims to determine the knowledge of the people in Central Java about porang plant, its cultivation, and its use in people's lives. The method used is a qualitative method by applying data collection techniques through interviews, observation and documentation. Besides general interviews, this study gains more information from some informants whose purposively chosen amongst the respondents as people knowledgeable about porang in general, and in particular A. muelleri. Results showed that people in Central Java do have knowledge about porang plant even though it was not used as food ingredient. Public knowledge about porang cultivation is obtained from various sources including social media and people who strive for porang with success. Therefore, since the community is currently aware of the potential and economic values of porang, they have started to cultivate it. Porang has enormous potential to be developed in the future and provide welfare for the community.
... The double-blind randomized study carried out by Vasques et al. 7 presented an evaluation of pharmacotherapeutic efficacy of the standardized extracts of G. cambogia (52.4% HCA) and A. konjac (94.9% of glucomannan) as a therapeutic form in obesity. In the experiment, 32 people were treated with GC and GNN for more than 12 weeks a daily dose (2.4g; 1.5g, respectively). ...
... Porang export within January to July 2020 was reported to be 14,568 ton, which is equivalent to IDR 801.24 billions (10). The increasing demand of porang for export is probably due to the roles of porang in maintaining human health and healing some human illness problems [11,12,13,14,15,16]. ...
Porang ( Amorphophallus muelleri Blume) is one of the agribusiness crops in Indonesia and has been becoming an important income source for Indonesian farmers. Since decades ago, porang has been harvested from the forest as its natural habitat, under a shading environment. Due to its high economic value, more farmers have cultivated porang on open land. The present investigation was undertaken on Alfisol soil in the glasshouse, which mimics an open growing environment. The present research aimed at evaluating the effect of different bulbil sizes on the growth and corm yield of porang on Alfisol soil. Five different sizes of porang bulbil as treatments [1.88 + 0.054 g, 2 = 3.21 + 0.044, 3 = 4.21 + 0.043, 4 = 6.45 + 0.04 and 5 = 9.10 + 0.22 g/bulbil] were laid out in completely randomized design and each treatment was replicated 3 times. All data obtained were analyzed by employing the standard deviation from 3 replicates for each treatment. Plant height and plant diameter at an earlier growing stage significantly increased with an increase of bulbil size. Bigger bulbil size also improved significantly the shoot dry weight, the corm diameter, the corm thickness and the fresh weight of corm at harvest. The highest value in all variables measured was attained by the biggest size of bulbil. The present research work suggests to use a bigger bulbil size as much as possible in order to produce a higher corm yield.
... The products of porang, e.g., chips and flour, are exported to some countries, such as Japan, China, Korea, and Australia [1 -4]. Its value in maintaining human health and alleviating some human illness [5][6][7][8][9][10] might have driven an increasing demand for porang from importing countries. Consequently, the domestic price of porang fresh tuber (corm) is much higher than the price of sweet potato and fresh cassava tubers. ...
As one of the important agribusiness crops, Amorphophallus muelleri Blume’s cultivation areas, locally known as “porang”, have significantly increased in the past recent years. The increase in cultivation area has been triggered by the significant rise of corm price and by the government program for enlargement of the porang cultivation. Consequently, farmers would eventually grow the porang on open agricultural land. As a result of cultivation expansion, an increase in corm production is required to meet export demand. Like other tuber crops, which have been cultivated on large and open areas in Indonesia, the porang plant would similarly experience severe damage and even a failure of harvest due to the diseases. The present field observation found infections caused by fungi ( Phytopht h ora colocasia and Sclerotium rolfsii ) and a plant virus significantly reduced the corm yield. The paper presented the first report of the diseases on the porang plant. Thus, the expansion of the porang cultivation area in Indonesia would be challenged by the infestation of these diseases.
... It is the mountain range that runs parallel to the western coast of the Indian peninsula. The region is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the eight "hottest hot-spots" of biological diversity in the world [12,13]. A recent enumeration has identified 7402 flowering plants in the Western Ghats, of which 1270 endemic species and the region is the centre of origin and diversity of several important spice and food crops [14]. ...
The Western Ghats, one of the biodiversity hot spots in India, is a major diversity centre of Garcinia species. The region harbors 11 Garcinia species, of which 9 are endemic. Most of the Garcinia species are economically important with wide utility in both traditional and industrial sectors. The present chapter assesses the distribution, taxonomy and conservation aspects of the Genus Garcinia of the Western Ghats. Sustainable utilization of Garcinia species through plant products such as condiments, gamboges, resins, essential oils and high value secondary metabolites has also been discussed in detail. The chapter highlights the importance of utility and conservation of plant wealth in the Western Ghats.
... Out of 134 identified publications in the initial search, 15 reviews were excluded after screening by title and abstract. Four articles were excluded because of cross over design (Chearskul et al., 2007;Chen et al., 2003, Vuksan et al., 2000Yoshida et al., 2006), five articles were excluded because glucomannan was orally administered as part of a combination supplement (Salas-Salvadó et al., 2008;Woodgate and Conquer, 2003;Kardum et al., 2014;Vasques et al., 2008;Jenkins et al., 2018), one because the study was not randomized and was in combination with other supplements (Maia-Landim et al., 2018), four RCTs were excluded because they worked on children (Livieri et al., 1992b;Vido et al., 1993;Szajewska, 2015, 2019), one article had energy-restricted diet (Cairella and Marchini, 1995), one article was excluded (Vuksan et al., 1999) due to having same participants with another article (2000) and one article had hyperlipidemic participants (Cairella and Marchini, 1995). Finally, 6 studies met all our inclusion criteria. ...
Objective
There are conflicting reports about the effect of glucomannan in the weight control which may be due to the variations in the intervention dose, participants, sample sizes, study durations and overall methodological quality. The present systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to investigate the effects of glucomannan on weight loss in overweight and obese adults.
Methods
Relevant studies, published up to April 2020, were searched through PubMed/Medline, Scopus. All randomized clinical trials investigating the effect of glucomannan supplementation on weight loss were included.
Results
Out of 134 citations, 6 trials that enrolled 225 subjects were included. glucomannan resulted in significant reduction in weight (Weighted mean differences (WMD): -0.96 kg; 95 % CI: -1.81 to -0.11, P = 0.02) (I² = 88.1%, P<0.001). Additionally, there was considerable effect on body weight in female (WMD: -1.86, 95% CI: -2.88, -0.84, P<0.001), studies with ≤ 30 participants (WMD: -1.67, 95% CI: -3.09, -0.25, P=0.02) and ≤8 weeks duration weeks (WMD: -1.34, 95% CI: -2.45, -0.23, P=0.01).
Conclusion
In this meta-analysis we found a significant reduction in body weight following glucomannan consumption in overweight and obese adults. Therefore, the recommendation on glucomannan supplementation could be a practical approach to reduce body weight in overweight and obese adults. Further clinical trials assessing the effect of glucomannan on body composition are needed and a validated methodology for measuring that should be used.
... However, no beneficial effect on EE has been found at different doses and durations of HCA supplementation in human trials, both in the short period and up to 12 weeks [162][163][164]. A recent meta-analysis of human trials failed to find a significant weight-loss effect of supplementation with Garcinia cambogia [165]. ...
The mass media has increasingly frequently suggested to the general population that specific foods or nutritional schemes are able to affect both human metabolism and energy expenditure, thus facilitating weight loss. This critical review is aimed at assessing available evidence on the roles of nutrients, food and dietary regimens in energy intake and energy expenditure. We queried the National Library of Medicine, the Cochrane Library, Excerpta Medica dataBASEand the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature database, and a search strategy was performed by using database-specific subject headings and keywords. We found that available scientific evidence on these topics is scarce, and that the limited number of available studies often have poor methodological quality. Only a few foods show beneficial effects on metabolism and energy expenditure, as the human energy balance is complex and multifactorial. Finally, microbiota may interfere with the intake, use and expenditure of energy in the human body. Conclusive evidence is still lacking, and, at present, it is not possible to identify a food or a diet with a significant impact on human energy expenditure.
... These et al. 1975, Katsuraya et al. 2003. Over the last few decades, KGM has been introduced to the United States and Europe, as a food additive in the treatment of obesityrelated dyslipidemia and diabetes due to its effectiveness in lowering blood cholesterol and sugar level, promote intestinal activity and immune function (Vuksan et al. 2001, Keithley and Swanson 2005, Zhang et al. 2005, Vasques et al. 2008, Chen et al. 2019. Moreover, because of its good biocompatibility and biodegradable activity, the applications of KGM and its derivatives has been extended greatly in various fields, such as pharmaceutical, biotechnical, fine chemical industry, and so on (Wang and He 2002, Chen et al. 2004, Devaraj et al. 2019. ...
Lanthanum (La) has been used as agricultural inputs in order to enhance yield and improve crop quality. However, little is known about the effect of La on the photosynthesis and growth of Amorphophallus sinensis, a worldwide food source. The effects of La on the photosynthetic and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, photosynthetic pigments, corm yield, and konjac glucomannan (KGM) of Amorphophallus sinensis were investigated via field experiments. The leaves were sprayed with different concentrations of LaCl3 (20, 80, 160, and 240 mg L-1). The results exhibited an increasing effect of LaCl3 on photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2 concentration, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, photosynthetic pigments, corm yield, and KGM, when concentration was between 20 and 240 mg L-1, and the most effective concentration was 160 mg L-1. Therefore, moderate LaCl3 concentration may increase yield of Amorphophallus sinensis by enhancing the photosynthetic efficiency, increasing the corm yield, and KGM contents.
... So taking a supplement of these appetite suppressants may help you lose weight by reducing appetite and cravings. The activity of these plant species is certainly related to the presence of metabolites such as glycosilated pregnanes [5], mannans [6], caffeine [7,8], mucilage, phenylalanine [9,10], which can cause anorexia, reduce triglycerides or inhibit the enzymes involved in lipid metabolism such as pancreatic lipase, lipoprotein lipase and glycerophosphate dehydrogenase or to increase energy expenditure. All these mechanisms result in a reduction of fat mass and thus body weight. ...
Overweight and obesity are pathologies that increase dramatically, they are most often associated with diseases such as hypertension, heart failure, stroke, type II diabetes, insulin resistance, dyslipidemias, certain cancers etc .The objective was to conduct an ethnobotanical survey of 4 plants consumed during periods of hunger and to determine the effect of the extracts of these plants on weight gain and food intake.The survey was based on direct dialogue using the respondent's choice language and the use of a questionnaire. Acute toxicity was determined on NMRI mice by orally administering of single dose of 2000 mg/kg. The slimming and anorectic potential of plant extracts was to evaluate the effect of plant extracts on weight gain and food intake of animals treated at 50, 100 and 500 mg/kg. 55 person with an age between 40 and 81 years old were interviewed. Raphionacme daronii gave the highest frequency of citation with 25.42%. All plant species showed no toxicity at 2000 mg/kg. Gardenia erubescens at 50 mg/kg gave a good activity on weight gain with a reduction of 5.18% against the control with an increase of 11.02%. Gardenia erubescens at 500 mg/kg gave the best anorectic activity on the treated animals.These plant extracts are an asset in the search for a new natural and less toxic molecule for the fight against obesity.
Keywords: Overweight; Ethnobotanical survey; Food intake; Gardenia erubescens
... fimbriata (significant reduction of hunger levels compared to placebo) [66], Irvingia gabonensis (no significant effect on energy intake) [94], fenugreek or Trigonella foenum-graecum (no significant effect on appetite, satiety, energy intake, or body weight) [95], Hoodia gordonii (no significant effect on satiety, energy intake, or body weight) [96], and Phaseolus vulgaris (no significant effect on energy intake, appetite control, hunger, body weight, or body fat) [97]. Tested combinations were Garcinia cambogia with Gymnema sylvestre (see above) [88], Garcinia cambogia with Amorphophallus konjac (no significant effect on body weight and energy intake) [98], and Garcinia cambogia with green tea extract, Ephedra sinica, and Gymnema sylvestre (no significant effect on energy intake but significant effect on weight loss) [99]. ...
The prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide. Bioactive phytochemicals in food supplements are a trending approach to facilitate dieting and to improve patients’ adherence to reducing food and caloric intake. The aim of this systematic review was to assess efficacy and safety of the most commonly used bioactive phytochemicals with appetite/hunger-suppressing and/or satiety/fullness-increasing properties. To be eligible, studies needed to have included at least 10 patients per group aged 18 years or older with no serious health problems except for overweight or obesity. Of those studies, 32 met the inclusion criteria, in which 27 different plants were tested alone or as a combination, regarding their efficacy in suppressing appetite/hunger and/or increasing satiety/fullness. The plant extracts most tested were derived from Camellia sinensis (green tea), Capsicum annuum, and Coffea species. None of the plant extracts tested in several trials showed a consistent positive treatment effect. Furthermore, only a few adverse events were reported, but none serious. The findings revealed mostly inconclusive evidence that the tested bioactive phytochemicals are effective in suppressing appetite/hunger and/or increasing satiety/fullness. More systematic and high quality clinical studies are necessary to determine the benefits and safety of phytochemical complementary remedies for dampening the feeling of hunger during dieting.
... Konjac (Amorphophallus konjac) is a perennial herbaceous species that mainly grows in Southeast Asia and Africa [1]. Konjac corm is rich in the hemicellulose glucomannan, which is widely used in many fields, including food additives, chemical engineering, medicine and the oil recovery process. ...
Bacterial soft rot caused by Pectobacterium species is a serious disease in konjac (Amorphophallus konjac), a healthy source of starch particularly in East Asia. An effective diagnostic method is crucial to control the disease and reduce losses in konjac production. In this study, we evaluated a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay with a specific primer set for the rapid and accurate detection of P. aroidearum. A comparative genomics approach was used to identify the specific genes suitable for the design of LAMP primers. The candidate target genes were determined through a first-round comparison with a 50-genome nucleotide database, and subjected to a second-round screening with the GenBank NR database. As a result, nine specific genes of P. aroidearum were selected for LAMP primer design. After screening of the primers, the primer set 1675-1 was chosen for LAMP detection owing to its high specificity and sensitivity. The LAMP assay could detect the presence of P. aroidearum genomic DNA at a concentration as low as 50 fg and 1.2 × 104 CFU/g artificially infected soil within 40 min at 65 °C. Subsequently, this primer set was successfully used to specifically detect P. aroidearum in naturally infected and non-symptomatic plant samples or soil samples from the field. This study indicates that a comparative genomic approach may facilitate the development of highly specific primers for LAMP assays, and a LAMP diagnostic assay with the specific primer set 1675-1 should contribute to the rapid and accurate detection of soft-rot disease in konjac at an early stage.
... This purportedly either induces a sense of satiety or reduces appetite [31]; animal experiments have shown some evidence that there was weight reduction after administration of HCA [32]. On the other hand, several human trials found no significant difference between this and a placebo [33][34][35]. However, a meta-analysis of nine clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness of HCA in weight reduction suggested that HCA may be relatively more effective than a placebo (mean difference: À0.88 kg; 95% confidence interval: 0-1.75 kg) [36]. ...
Rising rates of obesity across the globe have been associated with an increase in the use of herbal preparations for weight control. However, the mechanisms of action for these substances are often not known, as is the potential for interaction with other herbal preparations or prescription pharmaceutical drugs. To investigate the reported efficacy and safety of herbal weight loss preparations, we conducted a review of the literature focusing on herbs that are most commonly used in weight loss preparations, specifically, Garcinia cambogia, Camellia sinensis, Hoodia gordonii, Citrus aurantium and Coleus forskohlii. There was no clear evidence that the above herbal preparations would cause sustained long-term weight loss in humans in the long term. Serious illness and even death have occasionally resulted from the use of herbal weight loss preparations. Few clinical trials have been undertaken to evaluate the efficacy and/or safety of herbal weight loss preparations. In addition, potential issues of herb-herb and herb-drug interactions are often not considered. Regulation of these products is much less rigorous than for prescription medications, despite documented cases of associated hepatotoxicity. Copyright © 2019 Shanghai Changhai Hospital. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
... [ Obese subjects Hypocholesterolemic effect. [24] 72 post-weaned 6-week-old SD-rats ...
Konjac glucomannan (KGM) is a dietary fiber hydrocolloidal polysaccharide isolated from the tubers of Amorphophallus konjac. Over the last few decades, the purified KGM has been offered as a food additive as well as a dietary supplement in many countries. Also, a diet containing konjac flour or KGM is considered as healthier, and these foods are popular in many Asian and European markets. Further, due to the adhesive property of KGM, it can form a defensive covering on the surface of the intestine. Additionally, KGM can reduce the levels of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure and can enable weight loss. Its wide-ranging effects prevent many chronic diseases through the regulation of metabolism. In this review, the recent studies on the health benefits such as anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, laxative, prebiotic, and anti-inflammatory activities of KGM were discussed. Also, this review deals with the applications of KGM and its derivatives in bio-technical, pharmaceutical, tissue engineering, fine chemical fields, etc.
... The fruit trade is at international level. The main component of the fruits is hydroxyl citric acid and is used in anti obesity drugs [7]. The fermented fruit extract is used as a souring agent in parts of Kodagu and Kerala. ...
... We included 189 articles in the full-text review during which 174 articles were excluded for not meeting studyselection eligibility criteria. In the excluded articles, 30 studies were ,1 wk in duration ; 3 studies included a duplicate study population as had been evaluated in other articles (77)(78)(79); 14 studies provided ineligible study treatments (78,(80)(81)(82)(83)(84)(85)(86)(87)(88)(89)(90); 23 studies provided dietary fiber to both treatment and placebo groups ; 2 studies only included normal-weight adults (114,115); 11 studies reported central-tendency measures for participants who were not solely in the overweight or obese categories (115)(116)(117)(118)(119)(120)(121)(122)(123)(124)(125); 11 studies were published in languages other than English (126-136); 8 studies were conference proceedings (137-144); 9 studies reported nonrelevant outcomes (145)(146)(147)(148)(149)(150)(151)(152); 5 studies involved participants with previously diagnosed and currently treated metabolic disease (153)(154)(155)(156)(157); 48 studies were review papers (18,26,29,; and 10 studies included energy restriction or weight-loss programs in addition to fiber supplementation (204)(205)(206)(207)(208)(209)(210)(211)(212)(213). Three studies met our inclusion criteria but were unable to be included in the metaanalysis because of the presentation of geometric means and SEs or an absence of pretreatment and posttreatment data for study completers (214)(215)(216). ...
Background: There is strong epidemiologic evidence that dietary fiber intake is protective against overweight and obesity; however, results of intervention studies have been mixed. Soluble fiber beneficially affects metabolism, and fiber supplementation may be a feasible approach to improve body composition and glycemia in adults with overweight and obesity.Objective: We evaluated randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of isolated soluble fiber supplementation in overweight and obese adults on outcomes related to weight management [body mass index (BMI; in kg/m(2)), body weight, percentage of body fat, and waist circumference] and glucose and insulin metabolism (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance and fasting insulin) through a systematic review and meta-analysis.Design: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and Cochrane Library databases. Eligible studies were RCTs that compared isolated soluble fiber with placebo treatments without energy-restriction protocols. Random-effects models were used to estimate pooled effect sizes and 95% CIs. Meta-regressions were performed to assess outcomes in relation to the intervention duration, fiber dose, and fiber type. Publication bias was assessed via Begg's and Egger's tests and funnel plot inspection.Results: Findings from 12 RCTs (n = 609 participants) from 2 to 17 wk of duration are summarized in this review. Soluble fiber supplementation reduced BMI by 0.84 (95% CI: -1.35, -0.32; P = 0.001), body weight by 2.52 kg (95% CI: -4.25, -0.79 kg; P = 0.004), body fat by 0.41% (95% CI: -0.58%, -0.24%; P < 0.001), fasting glucose by 0.17 mmol/L (95% CI: -0.28, -0.06 mmol/L; P = 0.002), and fasting insulin by 15.88 pmol/L (95% CI: -29.05, -2.71 pmol/L; P = 0.02) compared with the effects of placebo treatments. No publication bias was identified. Considerable between-study heterogeneity was observed for most outcomes.Conclusions: Isolated soluble fiber supplementation improves anthropometric and metabolic outcomes in overweight and obese adults, thereby indicating that supplementation may improve fiber intake and health in these individuals. However, the interpretation of these findings warrants caution because of the considerable between-study heterogeneity. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03003897.
... Thus, (-)-HCA supplementation is expected to alter metabolic pathways. Although some studies have shown (-)-HCA possesses antiobesity activity [36,37] and anti-diabetic activity [38,39], little information is available on whether (-)-HCA affects fat accumulation in broiler chickens through regulation on the energy metabolism. ...
Background/aims:
(-)-Hydroxycitric acid (HCA) had been shown to suppress fat accumulation in animals and humans, while the underlying biochemical mechanism is not fully understood, especially little information is available on whether (-)-HCA regulates energy metabolism and consequently affects fat deposition.
Methods:
Hepatocytes were cultured for 24 h and then exposed to (-)-HCA (0, 1, 10, 50 µM), enzyme protein content was determined by ELISA; lipid metabolism gene mRNA levels were detected by RT-PCR.
Results:
(-)-HCA significantly decreased the number and total area of lipid droplets. ATP-citrate lyase, fatty acid synthase and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c mRNA level were significantly decreased after (-)-HCA treatment, whereas peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α mRNA level was significantly increased. (-)-HCA significantly decreased ATP-citrate lyase activity and acetyl-CoA content in cytosol, but significantly increased glucose consumption and mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate. (-)-HCA promoted the activity/content of glucokinase, phosphofructokinase-1, pyruvate kinase, pyruvate dehydrogenase, citrate synthase, aconitase, succinate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, NADH dehydrogenase and ATP synthase remarkably.
Conclusions:
(-)-HCA decreased lipid droplets accumulation by reducing acetyl-CoA supply, which mainly achieved via inhibition of ATP-citrate lyase, and accelerating energy metabolism in chicken hepatocytes. These results proposed a biochemical mechanism of fat reduction by (-)-HCA in broiler chickens in term of energy metabolism.
... Vasques CA, et al. performed a placebo-controlled double-blind and randomized study. They evaluated the effects of Garcinia cambogia plus Amorphophallus konjac (94.9% glucomannan) in the treatment of obesity [3]. ...
Definition: The Konjac plant comes from the genus Amorphophallus. Japanese food uses Konjac cake. Konjac contains almost no calories and has agreat amount of dietary fiber. Here, we reviewedpossible anti-atherosclerotic effects of konjac, using the search Pubmed®.Konjac ingestion isbeneficially associated with obesity, blood pressure,andlipid and glucose metabolism. However, evidence is lacking on the relationship between konjac ingestion and development of atherosclerotic diseases. Tobetterunderstandtheanti-atherosclerotic effects of konjac, future studieswill be performed, preferably with larger numbers of subjects.Keywords:atherosclerosis, body weight, glucose, konjac mannan, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol
... Regarding the effect of G. cambogia on obesity indices, it reduced body weight, BMI, WC and VAI; these findings correspond with a study that showed a significant reduction in anthropometric indices with G. cambogia treatment [27] but other studies reported non-significant differences between G. cambogia and placebo during 12 th weeks of treatment on anthropometric indices [28]. ...
Aim: The objective of this study was to estimate the effect of orlistat alone and in combination with Garcinia
cambogia on visceral adiposity index (VAI) in obese patients. Patients and Methods: A total of 99 obese
male patients were recruited with aged range between 37 and 46 years. They were randomized into three
equal groups, first group treated with orlistat 120 mg/day, second group treated with G. cambogia 166 mg/day,
and third group treated with orlistat 120 mg/day plus G. cambogia 166 mg/day. The duration of the treatments
was three consecutive months. Body mass index (BMI), VAI, blood pressure, blood glucose, total lipid profile,
atherogenic index, and cardiac risk ratio were recorded at baseline and after 3 months. Results: The treatment
with G. cambogia leads to reduction in VAI P < 0.05, whereas orlistat has a beneficial effect on cardiometabolic
profiles without a reduction in VAI P > 0.05. Combined therapy of G. cambogia plus orlistat showed the
more significant effect in reduction of VAI P < 0.05, cardiometabolic profiles and anthropometric measures
P < 0.01 compared to pretreatment period. Conclusion: Combination of G. cambogia with orlistat lead to
more significant effect than orlistat alone in amelioration of cardiometabolic profile and VAI in obese patients
... Regarding the effect of G. cambogia on obesity indices, it reduced body weight, BMI, WC and VAI; these findings correspond with a study that showed a significant reduction in anthropometric indices with G. cambogia treatment [27] but other studies reported non-significant differences between G. cambogia and placebo during 12 th weeks of treatment on anthropometric indices [28]. ...
Aim: The objective of this study was to estimate the effect of orlistat alone and in combination with Garcinia
cambogia on visceral adiposity index (VAI) in obese patients. Patients and Methods: A total of 99 obese
male patients were recruited with aged range between 37 and 46 years. They were randomized into three
equal groups, first group treated with orlistat 120 mg/day, second group treated with G. cambogia 166 mg/day,
and third group treated with orlistat 120 mg/day plus G. cambogia 166 mg/day. The duration of the treatments
was three consecutive months. Body mass index (BMI), VAI, blood pressure, blood glucose, total lipid profile,
atherogenic index, and cardiac risk ratio were recorded at baseline and after 3 months. Results: The treatment
with G. cambogia leads to reduction in VAI P < 0.05, whereas orlistat has a beneficial effect on cardiometabolic
profiles without a reduction in VAI P > 0.05. Combined therapy of G. cambogia plus orlistat showed the
more significant effect in reduction of VAI P < 0.05, cardiometabolic profiles and anthropometric measures
P < 0.01 compared to pretreatment period. Conclusion: Combination of G. cambogia with orlistat lead to
more significant effect than orlistat alone in amelioration of cardiometabolic profile and VAI in obese patients.
... Regarding the effect of G. cambogia on obesity indices, it reduced body weight, BMI, WC and VAI; these findings correspond with a study that showed a significant reduction in anthropometric indices with G. cambogia treatment [27] but other studies reported non-significant differences between G. cambogia and placebo during 12 th weeks of treatment on anthropometric indices [28]. ...
AIM:
The objective of this study was to estimate the effect of orlistat alone and in combination with Garcinia cambogia on visceral adiposity index (VAI) in obese patients.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
A total of 99 obese male patients were recruited with aged range between 37 and 46 years. They were randomized into three equal groups, first group treated with orlistat 120 mg/day, second group treated with G. cambogia 166 mg/day, and third group treated with orlistat 120 mg/day plus G. cambogia 166 mg/day. The duration of the treatments was three consecutive months. Body mass index (BMI), VAI, blood pressure, blood glucose, total lipid profile, atherogenic index, and cardiac risk ratio were recorded at baseline and after 3 months.
RESULTS:
The treatment with G. cambogia leads to reduction in VAI P < 0.05, whereas orlistat has a beneficial effect on cardiometabolic profiles without a reduction in VAI P > 0.05. Combined therapy of G. cambogia plus orlistat showed the more significant effect in reduction of VAI P < 0.05, cardiometabolic profiles and anthropometric measures P < 0.01 compared to pretreatment period.
CONCLUSION:
Combination of G. cambogia with orlistat lead to more significant effect than orlistat alone in amelioration of cardiometabolic profile and VAI in obese patients.
... The resultant konjac flour induced significantly the antiobesity properties, such as decrease in body weight, glucose, TG, and LDL-C concentrations in blood of nutritional obese rats. Vasques et al. [88] extracted a compound, hydroxycitric acid from Garcinia cambogia and mixed it with KGM and studied the pharmacotherapeutic efficiency of double-blind randomized sample for the treatment of obesity. A significant reduction was observed in total cholesterol level (−32.0 ± 35.1 mg/dl) and LDL-C levels (−28.7 ± 32.7 mg/dl) in the treated obese group. ...
Cellulose, present in renewable lignocellulosic material, is considered to be the most abundant organic substrate on earth for production of hexose and pentose sugars, feedstock for fuel, and for other chemicals. Research on cellulase has progressed very rapidly in the past few decades with an emphasis on enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose to hexose sugars. The enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose requires the use of cellulase [1,4-(1,3:1,4)-β-D-glucan glucanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.4], a multiple enzyme system consisting of endo-1,4,-β-D-glucanases [1,4-β-D-glucanases (CMCase, EC 3.2.1.4)], exo-1,4,-β-D-glucanases [1,4-β-D glucan cellobiohydrolase, FPA, EC 3.2.1.91], and β-glucosidase (cellobiase) (β-D-glucoside glucanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.21). Major impediments to exploit the commercial potential of cellulases are the economic yield, stability, specificity, and above all, the cost of production. In the last few years, emphasis has been devoted mainly to submerged fermentation and less attention has been given to solid state fermentation (SSF). SSF refers to the process whereby microbial growth and product fermentation occur on the surface of solid materials. This process occurs in the absence of "free" water, where the moisture is absorbed to the solid matrix. The direct applicability of the product, the high product concentration, lower production cost, easy product recovery, and reduced energy requirement make SSF a promising technology for cellulase production. This chapter covers the production of cellulase in SSF using various lignocellulosic substrates, the microorganisms involved, cultural conditions, process parameters (ie, moisture content and water activity, mass transfer processes: aeration and nutrients diffusion, substrate particle size, temperature, pH, surfactants, etc.), bioreactor designs, and the strategies to improve enzyme yield.
... Regarding the effect of G. cambogia on obesity indices, it reduced body weight, BMI, WC and VAI; these findings correspond with a study that showed a significant reduction in anthropometric indices with G. cambogia treatment [27] but other studies reported non-significant differences between G. cambogia and placebo during 12 th weeks of treatment on anthropometric indices [28]. ...
Aim
The objective of this study was to estimate the effect of orlistat alone and in combination with Garcinia cambogia on visceral adiposity index (VAI) in obese patients.
Patients and Methods
A total of 99 obese male patients were recruited with aged range between 37 and 46 years. They were randomized into three equal groups, first group treated with orlistat 120 mg/day, second group treated with G. cambogia 166 mg/day, and third group treated with orlistat 120 mg/day plus G. cambogia 166 mg/day. The duration of the treatments was three consecutive months. Body mass index (BMI), VAI, blood pressure, blood glucose, total lipid profile, atherogenic index, and cardiac risk ratio were recorded at baseline and after 3 months.
Results
The treatment with G. cambogia leads to reduction in VAI P < 0.05, whereas orlistat has a beneficial effect on cardiometabolic profiles without a reduction in VAI P > 0.05. Combined therapy of G. cambogia plus orlistat showed the more significant effect in reduction of VAI P < 0.05, cardiometabolic profiles and anthropometric measures P < 0.01 compared to pretreatment period.
Conclusion
Combination of G. cambogia with orlistat lead to more significant effect than orlistat alone in amelioration of cardiometabolic profile and VAI in obese patients.
... The resultant konjac flour induced significantly the antiobesity properties, such as decrease in body weight, glucose, TG, and LDL-C concentrations in blood of nutritional obese rats. Vasques et al. [88] extracted a compound, hydroxycitric acid from Garcinia cambogia and mixed it with KGM and studied the pharmacotherapeutic efficiency of double-blind randomized sample for the treatment of obesity. A significant reduction was observed in total cholesterol level (−32.0 ± 35.1 mg/dl) and LDL-C levels (−28.7 ± 32.7 mg/dl) in the treated obese group. ...
In recent year, konjac glucomannan (KGM) has attracted more attention due to its non-harmful and non-toxic properties, good biocompatibility, biodegradability and hydrophilic ability. Moreover, KGM and their derivatives have several importances in the multidirectional research areas such as nutritional, biotechnological and fine chemical fields. In the previous article, we have reviewed the nutritional aspects of KGM covering the various aspects of functional foods, food additives and their derivatives. This review aims at highlighting the diverse biomedical research conducted on KGM in the past ten years, covering therapies for anti-obesity, regulation in lipid metabolism, laxative effect, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, prebiotic to wound dressing applications. Moreover, this review deals with global health aspects of KGM and the disparate health related factors associated with diseases and their control measures.
... Sobrepeso y antiobesidad (Vasques et al. 2008,Yanai et al. 2015. Hipolipidémico. ...
We have already published a review about the results of clinical trials evaluating the effects of selected nutraceuticals on glycemia in humans. In this second part, we describe the role of other nutraceuticals involved in dysglycemia. The available evidence showed promising hypoglycemic effects of the nutraceuticals reviewed both for their efficacy and safety profile. However, contradictory results as regard the efficacy of some supplements such as Allium sativum , Juglans regia , and Lycium barbarum on glucose homeostasis have emerged from some clinical studies. Other nutraceuticals including Aloe vera , Amorphophallus Konjac , Bauhinia forficata , Coccinia , Ganoderma lucidum , Ipomoea batatas , and Lupinus mutabilis require larger and long‐term studies rigorously designed to confirm their hypoglycemic effects due to the scarce data available and the poor quality of clinical trials. Further studies are also required for Cinnamomum , Cynara scolymus , Momordica charantia , Olea europaea , and Opuntia streptacantha . Moreover, well‐designed large and long‐term clinical trials including the use of standardized nutraceutical preparations are necessary for Phaseolus vulgaris and Vaccinium myrtillus .
Objective
Dietary supplements and alternative therapies are commercialized as a panacea for obesity/weight gain as a result of the minimal regulatory requirements in demonstrating efficacy. These products may indirectly undermine the value of guideline-driven obesity treatments. Included in this study is a systematic review of the literature of purported dietary supplements and alternative therapies for weight loss.
Methods
A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of dietary supplements and alternative therapies for weight loss in participants aged ≥18 years. Searches of Medline (PubMed), Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Embase (Ovid) were conducted. Risk of bias and results were summarized qualitatively.
Results
Of the 20,504 citations retrieved in the database search, 1,743 full-text articles were reviewed, 315 of which were randomized controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of 14 purported dietary supplements, therapies, or a combination thereof. Risk of bias and sufficiency of data varied widely. Few studies (n = 52 [16.5%]) were classified as low risk and sufficient to support efficacy. Of these, only 16 (31%) noted significant pre/post intergroup differences in weight (range: 0.3-4.93 kg).
Conclusions
Dietary supplements and alternative therapies for weight loss have a limited high-quality evidence base of efficacy. Practitioners and patients should be aware of the scientific evidence of claims before recommending use.
The cover image is based on the Review* Effect of the Herbal medicines in obesity and metabolic syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of clinical trials by Moloud Payab ** et al., https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6547.***
Obesity is a medical situation in which excess body fat has gathered because of imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure. In spite of the fact that the variety of studies are available for obesity treatment and management, its “globesity” still remains a big challenge all over the world. The current systematic review and meta‐analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and mechanisms of effective herbal medicines in the management and treatment of obesity and metabolic syndrome in human. We systematically searched all relevant clinical trials via Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and the Cochrane database to assess the effects of raw or refined products derived from plants or parts of plants on obesity and metabolic syndrome in overweight and obesity adult subjects. All studies conducted by the end of May 2019 were considered in the systematic review. Data were extracted independently by two experts. The quality assessment was assessed using Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials checklist. The main outcomes were anthropometric indices and metabolic syndrome components. Pooled effect of herbal medicines on obesity and metabolic syndrome were presented as standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). A total of 279 relevant clinical trials were included. Herbals containing green tea, Phaseolus vulgaris, Garcinia cambogia, Nigella sativa, puerh tea, Irvingia gabonensis, and Caralluma fimbriata and their active ingredients were found to be effective in the management of obesity and metabolic syndrome. In addition, C. fimbriata, flaxseed, spinach, and fenugreek were able to reduce appetite. Meta‐analysis showed that intake of green tea resulted in a significant improvement in weight ([SMD]: −0.75 [−1.18, −0.319]), body mass index ([SMD]: −1.2 [−1.82, −0.57]), waist circumference ([SMD]: −1.71 [−2.66, −0.77]), hip circumference ([SMD]: −0.42 [−1.02, −0.19]), and total cholesterol, ([SMD]: −0.43 [−0.77, −0.09]). In addition, the intake of P. vulgaris and N. sativa resulted in a significant improvement in weight ([SMD]: −0.88, 95 % CI: [−1.13, −0.63]) and triglyceride ([SMD]: −1.67, 95 % CI: [−2.54, −0.79]), respectively. High quality trials are still needed to firmly establish the clinical efficacy of the plants in obesity and metabolic syndrome.
Aims:
Amorphophallus konjac is an important commercial crop grown in China because it is the only plant species which is rich in glucomannan concentration. Recently, an outbreak of anthracnose (incidence ranging from 10-15%) was observed in a field survey conducted from June to August 2018. This study aims to identify the causal agent of Amorphophallus konjac anthracnose.
Methods and results:
The pathogen was isolated on PDA medium. The fungal colony on PDA was grayish to dark gray. Conidia were falcate, one-celled and hyaline. Based on the micro-morphological and cultural characteristics, the pathogen was identified as Colletotrichum sp. BLAST search and phylogenetic analysis of the ITS, GAPDH, CHS1, ACT, CAL and TUB2 genes revealed the pathogen as Colletotrichum siamense. Koch's postulates were conducted on 2-month konjac leaves with conidial suspension. Development of typical anthracnose disease was recorded 5 days after inoculation and the pathogen's identity was confirmed by re-isolation and molecular identification.
Conclusions:
Amorphophallus konjac anthracnose was caused by Colletotrichum siamense in China.
Significance and impact of study:
Identification of causal agent of Amorphophallus konjac anthracnose will be helpful in designing effective disease control strategies.
Dry rot causes significant losses of konjac during storage in Hubei Province, China. In this study, the pathogens were obtained from konjac and then tested its pathogenicity through tissue isolation. The pathogens were identified using morphological characteristics and translation elongation factor-1 alpha sequences analysis. Four Fusarium species, namely F. meridionale, F. incarnatum, F. sambucinum, and F. solani, were obtained.
Objective:
Excessive body fat and the associated dysmetabolic consequences affect both developed and emerging countries. An altered gut microbiota composition is an important environmental cause of these conditions. Clinical trials targeting gut microbiome composition or functions with pro or prebiotics to promote a healthier profile are considered a promising tool for excessive body weight treatment and prevention of dysmetabolic complications.
Materials and methods:
We searched PubMed and Cochrane Library using combinations of probiotics/prebiotics and synbiotics with obesity/weight loss/metabolic syndrome as the search terms. Clinical studies and significant pre-clinical results showing molecular mechanisms supporting clinical results were also discussed.
Results:
Several studies in humans and in animal models have elucidated biological mechanisms supporting the observed clinical efficacy of selected probiotic and prebiotic compounds for weight management. Efficacy appears to be species or strain-specific. Fibers such as inulin or galactomannan promote independent and synergistic beneficial effects.
Conclusions:
Diet supplementation with synbiotics prepared using selected strains (such as Lactobacillus gasseri strains) showed to exert weight-reduction and anti-inflammatory activity in large independent studies. Their administration, together with galactomannan and/or inulin fibers, may increase weight management effects due to synergistic effect on short chain fatty acid production and microbiota 're-configuration'.
To elucidate how soft rot disease affects soil characteristics and root-associated, culturable microorganisms in Amorphophallus konjac stands, the responses of soil around roots of A. konjac with soft rot disease were investigated in stands with and without soft rot. Changes in the root-associated culturable microbial community and diversity were investigated by dilution plating. Soil characteristics were compared between stands using standard techniques. A. konjac with soft rot had higher concentrations of available soil P and K, NH4–N, organic matter and water content and lower pH compared with plants without. The community composition of root-associated culturable microorganisms differed between stands with and without soft rot. The microbial community associated with soft rot in A. konjac was characterized by four types of abundant microorganisms (Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporum, Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp. aureofaciens and Stenotrophomonas pavanii) and three types of less-abundant microorganisms (Rhizobium radiobacter, Bacillus thuringiensis and Streptomyces cellulosae), and a small number of Bacillus and Streptomyces species in the rhizosphere and rhizoplane soils. Particular microbial combinations were diametrically opposed between plants with and without soft rot. The richness and diversity of root-associated culturable microorganisms were higher in the stand without soft rot than in the stand with soft rot. A. konjac soft rot led to obvious differences in the diversity and community composition of root-associated culturable microorganisms and in soil characteristics.
The prevalence of excess body weight has significantly increased, with recent estimates suggesting 1.9 billion people are overweight or obese worldwide. While intake of dietary fibre (mainly from plant-based foods) is associated with improved weight management over time, it is uncertain whether dietary fibre isolates will benefit weight loss. The present study aimed to systematically assess the current evidence that dietary fibre supplementation can impact on weight loss in overweight adults. Blinded, randomised-controlled trials were retrieved from Scopus and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases. Studies with free-living, overweight adult participants and fibre supplementation in various forms (i.e. as pills, capsules or powder mix formats) were included. A total of 32 trials were identified that met these criteria. Meta-analysis of statistically pooled data for chitosan (n=6) found significant increases in weight loss (effect size −0.42, 95% confidence interval: −0.81 to −0.03, P<0.001) in treatment groups compared with control groups. For glucomannan (n=5), non-significant difference was found (effect size −0.58, 95% confidence interval: −1.52 to 0.35, P<0.001). Risk of bias within included studies appeared to be low with mean scores of >3 on the Jadad scale and 13 studies scoring the highest possible value. Evidence on the potential impact of supplementation with other fibre types on weight loss was limited by a low number of studies and varied methodological approaches. Further research is recommended to explore these underlying issues to improve the paucity of evidence. A number of elements of study design should also be carefully considered in future work.
The bacterial community and diversity in healthy and diseased konjac rhizosphere soils with different ages of continuous cropping were investigated using next-generation sequencing. The results demonstrated that the number of years of continuous cropping significantly altered soil bacterial community and diversity. Soil bacterial Shannon diversity index and Chao 1 index decreased with the increasing cropping years of konjac. After 1 year of cropping, the soil exhibited the highest bacterial relative abundance and diversity. Of the 44 bacterial genera (relative abundance ratio of genera greater than 0.3%), 14 were significantly affected by the duration of continuous cropping and plant status. With increasing continuous cropping, Alicyclobacillus decreased, while Achromobacter, Lactobacillus, Kaistobacter, Rhodoplanes increased after 3 years continuous cropping. Continuous cropping altered the structure and composition of the soil bacterial community, which led to the reduction in the beneficial bacteria and multiplication of harmful bacteria. These results will improve our understanding of soil microbial community regulation and soil health maintenance in konjac farm systems.
Cambogia gummi-guta L., Cambogia gutta L., Cambogia gutta Lindl., Garcinia affinis Wight & Arn., Garcinia cambogia (Gaertn.) Desr. nom. illeg., Garcinia conicarpa Wight, Garcinia gummi-gutta var. conicarpa (Wight) N. P. Singh, Garcinia elliptica Wall., Garcinia papilla Wight, Garcinia quaesita Pierre, Garcinia zeylanica Roxb.
This contribution presents 82 species of medicinal plants whose products are sold and consumed as cholesterollowering in the Buenos Aires-La Plata conurbation, Argentina. The hypocholesterolemic effect is relevant because the high level of blood cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, leading causes of death and disability almost worldwide. The species were selected from their locally assigned use, obtained from interviews with informants, data labels, prospectus and leaflets of products, and information diffused in the media, specially the Internet. Furthermore, a bibliographic review on scientific studies that validate the biological activity and effects of each species was accomplished. The theoretical framework of this research argues that urban botanical knowledge comprising some knowledge linked to traditions of various immigrants segments (invisible to most of the local population), and other non-traditional knowledge (visible). The assessment of these kinds of knowledge is approached from the plant products circulation in the restricted circuits of immigrants (Bolivian and Chinese for this contribution) and the general commercial circuit, so that products that pass from the first circuit to the second gain visibility. The circulation of plant products that acquire visibility also expressed the botanical knowledge transmission from one context to another, a transmission enhanced and accelerated by the media. In this framework, the visibility levels of plant products considered hypocholesterolemic in the study area are discussed.
A formula has been developed to predict creatinine clearance (Ccr) from serum creatinine (Scr) in adult males: (see article)(15% less in females). Derivation included the relationship found between age and 24-hour creatinine excretion/kg in 249 patients aged 18-92. Values for Ccr were predicted by this formula and four other methods and the results compared with the means of two 24-hour Ccr's measured in 236 patients. The above formula gave a correlation coefficient between predicted and mean measured Ccr's of 0.83; on average, the difference predicted and mean measured values was no greater than that between paired clearances. Factors for age and body weight must be included for reasonable prediction.
The four isomers of hydroxycitrate have been tested as substrates and inhibitors for citrate synthase, citrate lyase, and ATP citrate lyase. None of the isomers served as a substrate for citrate synthase and they were moderate to weak inhibitors of this reaction. Of the four isomers, only (pncit)-(2S)-2-hydroxycitrate did not serve as a substrate for citrate lyase while (pncit)-(4S)-4-hydroxycitrate was the only isomer which did not serve as a substrate for ATP citrate lyase. No consistent pattern of reactivity or inhibitor potency was seen with the different isomeric hydroxycitrates. It is proposed that more than one mode of binding is possible between the isomers and the three different active sites.
A formula has been developed to predict creatinine clearance (Ccr) from serum creatinine (Scr) in adult males: (see article)(15% less in females). Derivation included the relationship found between age and 24-hour creatinine excretion/kg in 249 patients aged 18-92. Values for Ccr were predicted by this formula and four other methods and the results compared with the means of two 24-hour Ccr's measured in 236 patients. The above formula gave a correlation coefficient between predicted and mean measured Ccr's of 0.83; on average, the difference predicted and mean measured values was no greater than that between paired clearances. Factors for age and body weight must be included for reasonable prediction.
To examine whether Konjac-mannan (KJM) fiber improves metabolic control as measured by glycemia, lipidemia, and blood pressure in high-risk type 2 diabetic patients.
A total of 11 hyperlipidemic and hypertensive type 2 diabetic patients treated conventionally by a low-fat diet and drug therapy participated. After an 8-week baseline, all were randomly assigned to take either KJM fiber-enriched test biscuits (0.7 g/412 kJ [100 kcal] of glucomannan) or matched placebo wheat bran fiber biscuits during two 3-week treatment phases separated by a 2-week washout period. The diet in either case was metabolically controlled and conformed to National Cholesterol Education Program Step 2 guidelines, while medications were maintained constant. Efficacy measures included serum fructosamine, lipid profiles, apolipoproteins, blood pressure, body weight, and nutritional analysis.
Compared with placebo, KJM significantly reduced the metabolic control primary end points: serum fructosamine (5.7%, P = 0.007, adjusted alpha = 0.0167), total:HDL cholesterol ratio (10%, P = 0.03, adjusted alpha = 0.05), and systolic blood pressure (sBP) (6.9%, P = 0.02, adjusted alpha = 0.025). Secondary end points, including body weight, total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoproteins A-1, B, and their ratio, glucose, insulin, and diastolic blood pressure, were not significant after adjustment by the Bonferroni-Hochberg procedure.
KJM fiber added to conventional treatment may ameliorate glycemic control, blood lipid profile, and sBP in high-risk diabetic individuals, possibly improving the effectiveness of conventional treatment in type 2 diabetes.
(-)-Hydroxycitrate (HCA) is an active ingredient that is extracted from the rind of the Indian fruit, Garcinia cambogia, which is available as an herbal supplement and is used to lose weight. In this study, the acute and chronic effects of HCA on energy metabolism were examined in male Std ddY mice. Mice were placed into metabolic chambers and administered 10 mg HCA or water (control) orally. Serum free fatty acid levels were significantly higher 100 min after administration in the HCA group, but the respiratory exchange ratio was not different from that in the control group. The concentration of glycogen in the gastrocnemius muscle was higher in the HCA group 16 h after administration, and in a separate study, the maximum swimming time until fatigue was slightly longer (P: = 0. 21) than that in the control group on d 1. The difference was significant on d 3 after 3 d of HCA or water administration. Other mice were administered 10 mg HCA or water orally twice a day for 25 d. On d 26, they were placed into metabolic chambers after administration and allowed to rest for 1 h, followed by 1 h of running at 15 m/min. Respiratory gas was monitored. The respiratory exchange ratio was significantly lower in the HCA group during both resting and exercising conditions. These results suggest that chronic administration of HCA promotes lipid oxidation and spares carbohydrate utilization in mice at rest and during running.
Numerous peripheral signals contribute to the regulation of food intake and energy homeostasis. Mechano- and chemoreceptors signaling the presence and energy density of food in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract contribute to satiety in the immediate postprandial period. Changes in circulating glucose concentrations appear to elicit meal initiation and termination by regulating activity of specific hypothalamic neurons that respond to glucose. Other nutrients (e.g., amino acids and fatty acids) and GI peptide hormones, most notably cholecystokinin, are also involved in short-term regulation of food intake. However, the energy density of food and short-term hormonal signals by themselves are insufficient to produce sustained changes in energy balance and body adiposity. Rather, these signals interact with long-term regulators (i.e., insulin, leptin, and possibly the orexigenic gastric peptide, ghrelin) to maintain energy homeostasis. Insulin and leptin are transported into the brain where they modulate expression of hypothalamic neuropeptides known to regulate feeding behavior and body weight. Circulating insulin and leptin concentrations are proportional to body fat content; however, their secretion and circulating levels are also influenced by recent energy intake and dietary macronutrient content. Insulin and leptin concentrations decrease during fasting and energy-restricted diets, independent of body fat changes, ensuring that feeding is triggered before body energy stores become depleted. Dietary fat and fructose do not stimulate insulin secretion and leptin production. Therefore, attenuated production of insulin and leptin could lead to increased energy intake and contribute to weight gain and obesity during long-term consumption of diets high in fat and/or fructose. Transcription of the leptin gene and leptin secretion are regulated by insulin-mediated increases of glucose utilization and appear to require aerobic metabolism of glucose beyond pyruvate. Other adipocyte-derived hormones and proteins that regulate adipocyte metabolism, including acylation stimulating protein, adiponectin, diacylglycerol acyltransferase, and perilipin, are likely to have significant roles in energy homeostasis.
NIH Clinical Guidelines (1998) recommend the measurement of waist circumference (WC, centimeters) within body mass index (BMI, kilograms per square meter) categories as a screening tool for increased health risk.
The Canada Heart Health Surveys (1986 through 1992) were used to describe the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in Canada and to test the use of the NIH guidelines for predicting metabolic risk factors. The sample included 7981 participants ages 20 to 74 years who had complete data for WC, BMI, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglycerides, diabetic status, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures. National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III risk categories were used to identify the metabolic syndrome and associated risk factors. Logistic regression was used to test the hypothesis that WC improves the prediction of the metabolic syndrome, within overweight (25 to 29.9 kg/m(2)) and obese I (30 to 34.9 kg/m(2)) BMI categories.
The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 17.0% in men and 13.2% in women. The odds ratios (OR) for the prediction of the metabolic syndrome were elevated in overweight [OR, 1.85; 95% confidence interval (95%CI), 1.02 to 3.35] and obese (OR, 2.35; 95%CI, 1.25 to 4.42) women with a high WC compared with overweight and obese women with a low WC, respectively. On the other hand, WC was not predictive of the metabolic syndrome or component risk factors in men, within BMI categories.
In women already at increased health risk because of an elevated BMI, the additional measurement of WC may help identify cardiovascular risk.
The present study was designed to evaluate effects of konjac glucomannan (KGM) supplement (3.6 g/day) for 28 days on blood lipid and glucose levels in hyperlipidemic type 2 diabetic patients and the possible mechanism for the reductions in blood lipid levels.
Twenty-two diabetic subjects (age 64.2 + 8.4 years, BMI 25.5 + 3.2 kg/m(2)) with elevated blood cholesterol levels (fasting glucose between 6.7-14.4 mmol/L), but currently not taking lipid-lowering medication, were recruited to participate in a two 28-day period, randomized, double-blind, crossover clinical trial. Fasting blood samples drawn on the initial and final days of each period were determined for plasma lipids and glucose levels. Feces collected at the end of each experimental period were analyzed for neutral sterol and bile acid contents.
Compared with placebo, KGM effectively reduced plasma cholesterol (11.1%, p = 0.0001, adjusted alpha = 0.006), LDL-cholesterol (20.7%, p = 0.0004, adjusted alpha = 0.006), total/HDL cholesterol ratio (15.6%, p = 0.0005, adjusted alpha = 0.007), ApoB (12.9%, p = 0.0001, adjusted alpha = 0.006) and fasting glucose (23.2%, p = 0.002, adjusted alpha = 0.008). Plasma triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, LDL/HDL cholesterol, postprandial glucose and body weight were not significant after adjustment by the Bonferroni-Hochberg procedure. Fecal neutral sterol and bile acid concentrations were increased by 18.0% (p = 0.004) and 75.4% (p < 0.001), respectively, with KGM supplement.
The KGM supplement improved blood lipid levels by enhancing fecal excretion of neutral sterol and bile acid and alleviated the elevated glucose levels in diabetic subjects. KGM could be an adjunct for the treatment of hyperlipidemic diabetic subjects.
The underlying pathophysiology of the metabolic syndrome is the subject of debate, with both insulin resistance and obesity considered as important factors. We evaluated the differential effects of insulin resistance and central body fat distribution in determining the metabolic syndrome as defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel III. In addition, we determined which NCEP criteria were associated with insulin resistance and central adiposity. The subjects, 218 healthy men (n = 89) and women (n = 129) with a broad range of age (26-75 years) and BMI (18.4-46.8 kg/m2), underwent quantification of the insulin sensitivity index (Si) and intra-abdominal fat (IAF) and subcutaneous fat (SCF) areas. The metabolic syndrome was present in 34 (15.6%) of subjects who had a lower Si [median: 3.13 vs. 6.09 x 10(-5) min(-1)/(pmol/l)] and higher IAF (166.3 vs. 79.1 cm2) and SCF (285.1 vs. 179.8 cm2) areas compared with subjects without the syndrome (P < 0.001). Multivariate models including Si, IAF, and SCF demonstrated that each parameter was associated with the syndrome. However, IAF was independently associated with all five of the metabolic syndrome criteria. In multivariable models containing the criteria as covariates, waist circumference and triglyceride levels were independently associated with Si and IAF and SCF areas (P < 0.001). Although insulin resistance and central body fat are both associated with the metabolic syndrome, IAF is independently associated with all of the criteria, suggesting that it may have a pathophysiological role. Of the NCEP criteria, waist circumference and triglycerides may best identify insulin resistance and visceral adiposity in individuals with a fasting plasma glucose <6.4 mmol/l.
Glucomannan is a dietary fiber employed quite frequently in the western countries since two decades now, as its ingestion plays an important role in human health. However, eastern people have used this fiber for more than a thousand years. This dietary fiber is the main polysaccharide obtain from the tubers of the Amorphophallus konjac plant, a member of the family Araceae found in east Asia. The chemical structure of glucomannan consists, mainly, in mannose and glucose in the ratio 8:5 linked by beta (1-->4) glycosidic bonds. This soluble fiber has a extraordinarily high waterholding capacity, forming highly viscous solutions when dissolved in water. It has the highest molecular weight and viscosity of any known dietary fiber. It has been demonstrated that this product is highly effective in the treatment of obesity due to the satiety sensation that it produces; as a remedy for constipation, because it increases the faeces volume; as hypocholesterolemic agent, interfering in the transport of cholesterol and of bile acids and as hypoglycemic and hypoinsulinemic agent, probably, by delaying gastric emptying and slowering glucose delivery to the intestinal mucosa. To the beneficial properties of this fiber, several disadvantages can be added as the production of flatulence, abdominal pain, esophageal obstruction, lower gastrointestinal obstruction or even the possible modification of the bioavailability of other drugs. This paper reviews the main characteristics of glucomannan, as well as its properties, physiologic effects and therapeutic uses.
The quantitative measurement of dietary fiber does not recognize its diverse actions on nutrient absorption, sterol metabolism, fermentation in the colon, and stool weight. These differences in action are more likely due to differences in physical characteristics along the gastrointestinal tract. This paper explores such physical characteristics and attempts to classify dietary fiber in a more physical manner. This approach recognizes the diverse and variant action of each dietary fiber, which may be modified as a result of processing and cooking without changing in any way the quantitative measurement of dietary fiber. The general principles developed in this paper could also be applied to other polymeric materials passing along the gastrointestinal tract.
In 827 male and female subjects, with a large variation in body composition and an age range of 7-83 years, body composition was measured by densitometry, anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance. The relationship between densitometrically determined fat free mass (FFM) with body impedance (R), body weight (W) and body height (H) was analysed, taking age and sex into account. The intercept of the regression equation FFM = a x H2/R + b was found to be age, and (at older ages) sex dependent, increasing from age 7 to age 15, and slowly decreasing after age 16. Therefore the population was subdivided into two age categories, the one 15 years and younger, and the other 16 years and older. Each age category was randomly divided into two groups, A and B. In each age category the developed prediction formula for group A was cross-validated in group B, and vice versa. No statistically and biologically meaningful differences between predicted and measured FFM were observed in either group. Therefore the data of group A and B in each age category were combined. The best fitted prediction formula at ages less than or equal to 15 was: FFM = 0.406 x 10(4) x H2/R + 0.360 W + 5.58 H + 0.56 Sex - 6.48: n = 166, R2 = 0.97, SEE = 1.68 kg (cv% = 4.9 percent); and at ages greater than or equal to 16: FFM = 0.340 x 10(4) x H2/R + 15.34 H + 0.273 W - 0.127 age + 4.56 sex - 12.44: n = 661, R2 = 0.93, SEE = 2.63 kg (cv% = 5.0 percent).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A method for estimating the cholesterol content of the serum low-density lipoprotein fraction (Sf- 0.20)is presented. The method involves measure- ments of fasting plasma total cholesterol, tri- glyceride, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations, none of which requires the use of the preparative ultracentrifuge. Cornparison of this suggested procedure with the more direct procedure, in which the ultracentrifuge is used, yielded correlation coefficients of .94 to .99, de- pending on the patient population compared. Additional Keyph rases hyperlipoproteinemia classifi- cation #{149} determination of plasma total cholesterol, tri- glyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol #{149} beta lipo proteins
An eight-week double-blind trial was conducted to test purified glucomannan fiber as a food supplement in 20 obese subjects. Glucomannan fiber (from konjac root) or placebo was given in 1-g doses (two 500 mg capsules) with 8 oz water, 1 h prior to each of three meals per d. Subjects were instructed not to change their eating or exercise patterns. Results showed a significant mean weight loss (5.5 lbs) using glucomannan over an eight-week period. Serum cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly reduced (21.7 and 15.0 mg/dl respectively) in the glucomannan treated group. No adverse reactions to glucomannan were reported.
The relationships of total cholesterol and the proportion of cholesterol in individual lipoprotein classes to coronary heart disease are complex. To help simplify these relationships, cholesterol values are often combined into one summary estimate to form a single risk factor with a relationship to disease that is more easily described. Although summary estimates result in convenient expressions relating cholesterols to coronary heart disease, there is the potential for sacrificing information by ignoring the joint configuration of cholesterols that make up these estimates. We investigated the extent of this possibility for the ratio of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and the ratio of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The findings suggest that the summary estimates are useful expressions for combining cholesterol information and are strong predictors of coronary heart disease. Clinicians who choose to use a summary estimate for screening purposes should recognize that a single ratio estimate is not always as informative as the joint configuration of the cholesterols that make up the estimate. This possibility is most clearly exhibited for the ratio of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and it may become more apparent in future studies as the capabilities of exploring lipoprotein cholesterol relationships improve.
The effects of the soluble fiber konjac glucomannan (GM) on serum cholesterol concentrations were investigated in 63 healthy men in a double-blind crossover, placebo-controlled study. After a 2-wk baseline period, the subjects were given 3.9 g GM or placebo daily for 4 wk. After a washout period of 2 wk, crossover took place, followed by another 4 wk of treatment. The subjects were encouraged not to change their ordinary diets or general lifestyle during the investigation. GM fibers reduced total cholesterol (TC) concentrations by 10% (P < 0.0001), low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations by 7.2% (P < 0.007), triglycerides by 23% (P < 0.03), and systolic blood pressure by 2.5% (P < 0.02). High-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and the ratio of LDL-C to HDL-C did not change significantly. No change in diastolic blood pressure or body weight was observed. No adverse effects were observed. The results of this study show that GM is an effective cholesterol-lowering dietary adjunct.
Hydroxycitric acid, the active ingredient in the herbal compound Garcinia cambogia, competitively inhibits the extramitochondrial enzyme adenosine triphosphate-citrate (pro-3S)-lyase. As a citrate cleavage enzyme that may play an essential role in de novo lipogenesis inhibition, G cambogia is claimed to lower body weight and reduce fat mass in humans.
To evaluate the efficacy of G cambogia for body weight and fat mass loss in overweight human subjects.
Twelve-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Outpatient weight control research unit.
Overweight men and women subjects (mean body mass index [weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters], approximately 32 kg/m2).
Subjects were randomized to receive either active herbal compound (1500 mg of hydroxycitric acid per day) or placebo, and both groups were prescribed a high-fiber, low-energy diet. The treatment period was 12 weeks. Body weight was evaluated every other week and fat mass was measured at weeks 0 and 12.
Body weight change and fat mass change.
A total of 135 subjects were randomized to either active hydroxycitric acid (n = 66) or placebo (n = 69); 42 (64%) in the active hydroxycitric acid group and 42 (61%) in the placebo group completed 12 weeks of treatment (P = .74). Patients in both groups lost a significant amount of weight during the 12-week treatment period (P<.001); however, between-group weight loss differences were not statistically significant (mean [SD], 3.2 [3.3] kg vs 4.1 [3.9] kg; P = .14). There were no significant differences in estimated percentage of body fat mass loss between treatment groups, and the fraction of subject weight loss as fat was not influenced by treatment group.
Garcinia cambogia failed to produce significant weight loss and fat mass loss beyond that observed with placebo.
(-)-Hydroxycitric acid (HCA) reportedly promotes weight loss, in part, through suppression of hunger. However, this mechanism has never been evaluated in humans in a controlled study. Eighty-nine mildly overweight females were prescribed 5020-kJ diets for 12 weeks as part of a double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel group study. Forty-two participants ingested 400-mg caplets of Garcinia cambogia 30-60 min prior to meals for a total dose of 2.4 g/day (1.2 g/day HCA). Forty-seven participants ingested matched placebos. Weight and body composition were assessed at baseline and every other week for 12 weeks. Food intake and appetitive variables were assessed at baseline and monthly for 12 weeks. Both groups lost body weight with the active group achieving a significantly greater reduction (3. 7+/-3.1 kg versus 2.4+/-2.9 kg). No effects of the HCA were observed on appetitive variables. The active treatment group did not exhibit better dietary compliance or significant correlations between appetitive variables and energy intake or weight change. This study does not support a satiety effect of HCA.
To assess the effects of pravastatin on all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality and to compare the effects for patients with prior coronary heart disease with those for patients without, using pooled data from the Long-Term Intervention with Pravastatin in Ischaemic Disease (LIPID) study, the Cholesterol and Recurrent Events (CARE) study, and the West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study (WOSCOPS).
13 173 patients with coronary heart disease and 6595 men with elevated cholesterol and no prior coronary disease received pravastatin, 40 mg daily, or placebo for an average of 5 to 6 years. Data were analysed according to a pre-specified, published protocol. For all three trials combined, the mortality among patients assigned pravastatin was significantly lower, at 7.9%, than the 9.8% among those assigned placebo, a relative risk reduction of 20% (95% confidence interval (CI) 12-27%, P<0.0001). Active treatment was associated with a reduction in coronary mortality (24%, 95% CI 14-33%). Larger reductions in absolute risk were estimated in those with prior coronary heart disease than in those without.
Treatment with pravastatin over 5 years reduces all-cause mortality and coronary mortality in patients with and those without a history of coronary heart disease. The size of the benefit was related principally to the baseline risk.
In this study we examined the effects of 3.3% Garcinia cambogia extract on 10% sucrose loading in mice for 4 weeks. Treatment was found to have no effect on body weight, fat pad weight or serum glucose level. On the other hand, serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, NEFA were observed. Levels of serum insulin and leptin, as well as the leptin/WAT ratio, were lower in the treated mice than in the control. These findings suggested that G. cambogia extract efficiently improved glucose metabolism and displayed leptin-like activity.
The primary dyslipidemia related to obesity is characterized by increased triglycerides, decreased HDL levels, and abnormal LDL composition. Much work has been done to elucidate the pathogenesis of the dyslipidemia of obesity, which seems to be closely related to insulin resistance in obese individuals; however, more studies in humans are needed to further understand the metabolic mechanisms underlying the changes, and to distinguish between the roles of insulin resistance and body fat in the lipoprotein changes. The dyslipidemia associated with obesity no doubt plays a major role in the development of atherosclerosis and CVD in obese individuals. All of the components of the dyslipidemia, including higher triglycerides, decreased HDL levels, and increased small, dense LDL particles, have been shown to be atherogenic. Weight loss and exercise, even if they do not result in normalization of body weight, can improve this dyslipidemia and thus reduce CVD risk. In addition, obese individuals should be targeted for intense lipid-lowering therapy, when necessary.
BMI (kilograms per meters squared) and waist circumference (WC) (measured in centimeters) are each associated with the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). Therefore, a combination of the two may be more effective in identifying subjects at risk than either alone. The present study sought to identify the combination of BMI and WC that has the strongest association with CVD risk factors in whites.
Subjects were 8712 white men and women from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The optimal combination of BMI and WC was developed using logistic regression models with BMI and WC as predictors and CVD risk factors as outcomes. The combined measure of BMI and WC using current cut-off points was also examined. Sensitivity, specificity, and receiver operating characteristics curves were compared between the combined measures and BMI alone.
For white men, the optimal combination of BMI and WC for identifying CVD risk factors was 0.68 x BMI + 0.32 x WC. This combination generated a score that better estimated the odds of having CVD risk factors than either alone. For white women, WC alone largely determined the likelihood of having CVD risks. The combination of BMI and WC using current cut-off points may provide an improved measure of CVD risk. Combined measures showed a higher sensitivity or a shorter distance in receiver operating characteristic curves in the identification of CVD risk factors.
Combined measures of BMI and WC may provide a higher overall test performance for CVD risk factors and may be useful in some ethnic groups as an improved means of screening subjects for further evaluation in the clinical setting.
Obesity is an epidemic disease that threatens to inundate health care resources by increasing the incidence of diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and cancer. These effects of obesity result from two factors: the increased mass of adipose tissue and the increased secretion of pathogenetic products from enlarged fat cells. This concept of the pathogenesis of obesity as a disease allows an easy division of disadvantages of obesity into those produced by the mass of fat and those produced by the metabolic effects of fat cells. In the former category are the social disabilities resulting from the stigma associated with obesity, sleep apnea that results in part from increased parapharyngeal fat deposits, and osteoarthritis resulting from the wear and tear on joints from carrying an increased mass of fat. The second category includes the metabolic factors associated with distant effects of products released from enlarged fat cells. The insulin-resistant state that is so common in obesity probably reflects the effects of increased release of fatty acids from fat cells that are then stored in the liver or muscle. When the secretory capacity of the pancreas is overwhelmed by battling insulin resistance, diabetes develops. The strong association of increased fat, especially visceral fat, with diabetes makes this consequence particularly ominous for health care costs. The release of cytokines, particularly IL-6, from the fat cell may stimulate the proinflammatory state that characterizes obesity. The increased secretion of prothrombin activator inhibitor-1 from fat cells may play a role in the procoagulant state of obesity and, along with changes in endothelial function, may be responsible for the increased risk of cardiovascular disease and hypertension. For cancer, the production of estrogens by the enlarged stromal mass plays a role in the risk for breast cancer. Increased cytokine release may play a role in other forms of proliferative growth. The combined effect of these pathogenetic consequences of increased fat stores is an increased risk of shortened life expectancy.
Effects of pravastatin on mortality in patients with and without coronary heart disease across a broad range of cholesterol levels
- J Simes
- Furbeg Cd
- Braunwald
Simes J, Furbeg CD, Braunwald E et al. 2002. Effects of pravastatin on mortality in patients with and without coronary heart disease across a broad range of cholesterol levels. Eur Heart J 23: 207–215.
DOI: 10.1002/ptr REFERENCES Ardern CI, Katzmarzyk PT, Janssen I, Ross R. 2003. Discrimina-tion of health risk by combined body mass index and waist circumference
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Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Phytother. Res. 22, 1135–1140 (2008) DOI: 10.1002/ptr REFERENCES Ardern CI, Katzmarzyk PT, Janssen I, Ross R. 2003. Discrimina-tion of health risk by combined body mass index and waist circumference. Obes Res 11: 135–142.