Polymethoxyflavone purified from Kaempferia parviflora reduces visceral fat in Japanese overweight individuals: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Visceral fat is a more important factor in obesity-associated disorders in Japanese individuals than in Caucasian individuals. The objective of this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel group study, conducted in Japanese overweight adults, was to investigate the effects of polymethoxyflavone purified from Kaempferia parviflora on visceral fat. A total of 80 subjects (aged 20-64 years, 23.0 ≤ body mass index < 30 kg m-2) were randomly assigned in 1 : 1 ratio to either the active (polymethoxyflavone purified from K. parviflora) or placebo group. Over a 12-week period, each subject received two capsules containing polymethoxyflavone purified from K. parviflora (12 mg polymethoxyflavone per day) or placebo. The primary outcome was a reduction in visceral fat area (VFA), while the secondary outcome was a reduction in subcutaneous fat area (SFA) and total fat area (TFA). VFA was measured at 0, 8, and 12 weeks using computed tomography scanning. Results showed that VFA significantly reduced after 12 weeks in the active group and was significantly lower than in the placebo group at 8 and 12 weeks. A significant reduction was observed in SFA and TFA after 8 and 12 weeks in the active group; TFA was significantly lower than that in the placebo group at 8 and 12 weeks. No adverse events associated with the test supplements were observed in either group. Our study shows that administration of polymethoxyflavone purified from K. parviflora reduces visceral fat in Japanese overweight adults.

Visceral Fat-Reducing Effect and Safety of Continuous Consumption of Beverage Containing Resistant Maltodextrin: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group Clinical Trial.

Obesity is regarded as a global concern with increasing prevalence, most notably in developed countries. Metabolic syndrome is a predictor of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus and is defined as the accumulation of multiple risk factors caused by abdominal visceral obesity. Resistant maltodextrin (RMD) is a soluble dietary fiber that has been shown to reduce visceral fat in long-term clinical trials when continuously administered at 10 g, three times daily. Herein, we evaluated the effects of long-term consumption of 5 g RMD three times daily. A total of 140 healthy adults were randomly assigned to two intervention groups for a 12-wk randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial. Participants ingested a test beverage containing 5 g RMD or a placebo beverage without RMD. Interviews, anthropometric measurements, physiological examination, blood tests, and urinalyses were conducted at baseline and every 4 wk during the trial. Computed tomography scans were performed at baseline and at the end of week 8 and 12. Results showed that abdominal visceral fat area (VFA) significantly decreased in the test group from 105.33±26.83 cm2 at baseline to 101.15±24.33 cm2 at week 12. Further, a significant difference was observed in the VFA between the test and control groups (p<0.05), confirming the function of continuous RMD consumption in reducing abdominal visceral fat. Furthermore, neither serious adverse events nor adverse clinical findings were observed in the blood or urine tests following consumption of RMD, suggesting that continuous consumption of RMD containing beverages is safe.

Evaluation of the Safety of Daily Consumption of Kaempferia parviflora Extract (KPFORCE): A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial.

This study's aim was to evaluate the safety of daily consumption of Kaempferia parviflora extract (KPE) using a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study with 52 recruited healthy Japanese subjects. Each subject received five KPE tablets (containing 150 mg of KPFORCE™/tablet) or placebo daily for 4 weeks. There were no adverse events related to KPE intake or any abnormalities compared with placebo group in anthropometric, cardiovascular, blood, and urine parameters during the course of the study. Thus, daily KPE ingestion was found to be safe in healthy Japanese men and women.

Coffee Abundant in Chlorogenic Acids Reduces Abdominal Fat in Overweight Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial.

The components of roasted or green coffee beans that promote abdominal fat reduction are not clear. We investigated the effects of daily consumption of coffee enriched in chlorogenic acids (CGA) on abdominal fat area in a randomized, double-blind, parallel controlled trial. Healthy, overweight men and women (n = 150, body mass index (BMI) ≥25 to <30 kg/m2) were randomly allocated to high-CGA (369 mg CGA/serving) or control (35 mg CGA/serving) coffee groups. Instant coffee was consumed once daily for 12 weeks, with four-week pre- and post-observation periods. Abdominal fat area and anthropometric measurements were analyzed at baseline and at four, eight, and 12 weeks, and 142 subjects completed the trial. Visceral fat area (VFA), total abdominal fat area (TFA), body weight, and waist circumference significantly decreased in the CGA group compared with the control group, with a group × time interaction (p < 0.001, p = 0.001, p = 0.025, and p = 0.001, respectively). Changes in VFA and TFA from baseline to 12 weeks were significantly greater in the CGA group than in the control group (-9.0 ± 13.9 cm2 vs. -1.0 ± 14.3 cm2, p < 0.001; -13.8 ± 22.9 cm2 vs. -2.0 ± 16.2 cm2, p < 0.001). No severe adverse events occurred. Consumption of high-CGA coffee for 12 weeks by overweight adults might lower VFA, TFA, BMI, and waist circumference.

Rice Bran Supplement Containing A Functional Substance, the Novel Peptide Leu-Arg-Ala, has Anti-Hypertensive Effects: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study.

The anti-hypertensive effect of processed rice bran (PRB) was recently reported, for which the novel peptide Leu-Arg-Ala (LRA) was identified as the functional substance. The purpose of this study was to assess the anti-hypertensive effects of a rice bran supplement containing PRB in individuals with high-normal blood pressure (systolic blood pressure (SBP): 130⁻139 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP): 85⁻89 mmHg) or grade 1 hypertension (SBP: 140⁻159 mmHg and/or DBP: 90⁻99 mmHg). One hundred individuals with high-normal blood pressure or grade 1 hypertension were recruited to participate in this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Participants were randomly allocated to the placebo group (n = 50) or the test group (n = 50). Each group took four test tablets (43 µg LRA/day) or four placebo tablets daily. The decrease in blood pressure in the test group compared with the placebo group was the primary outcome. Adverse events were recorded and hematological/urinary parameters measured to determine the safety of the supplement, which was the secondary outcome. In total, 87 participants completed the study. The SBP of the test group at 12 weeks was significantly lower than that of the placebo group (p = 0.0497). No serious adverse events were observed. Daily consumption of a rice bran supplement containing PRB can safely improve mildly elevated blood pressure.

Daily intake of Kaempferia parviflora extract decreases abdominal fat in overweight and preobese subjects: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study.

PURPOSE: Obesity is a serious problem, which is now a worldwide health problem. Kaempferia parviflora extract (KPE) exhibits anti-obesity effects in animals. However, as no clinical trials have evaluated the anti-obesity effects of KPE in humans, we examined the effects of KPE in reducing abdominal fat in overweight and preobese Japanese subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 12-week, single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted. Seventy-six subjects (males and females aged 20 to <65 years) with a body mass index ≥24 and <30 kg/m2 were randomly assigned into two groups. The subjects in each group ingested one capsule of placebo or active KPE (containing 150 mg of KPE) once daily for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was reduction in visceral fat area as determined by computed tomography scanning. The key secondary outcomes were reductions in subcutaneous fat area and total fat area. Subgroup analysis was also performed in healthy subjects without dyslipidemia, hypertension, or hyperglycemia. The safety of KPE ingestion was also evaluated. RESULTS: Compared with the placebo group, the active KPE group exhibited significant reduction in abdominal fat area (visceral, subcutaneous, and total fat) and triglyceride levels after 12 weeks. Subgroup analyses demonstrated a significant reduction in abdominal fat area and triglyceride levels in healthy subjects compared with the placebo group after 12 weeks. Neither group exhibited adverse events related to the test foods or clinically relevant abnormal changes in physical, biochemical, or hematologic parameters, or in urinalysis results and medical interview. CONCLUSION: Daily ingestion of KPE safely reduces body fat, particularly abdominal fat, in Japanese overweight and preobese subjects.

Consumption of alpha-Linolenic Acid-enriched Diacylglycerol Reduces Visceral Fat Area in Overweight and Obese Subjects: a Randomized, Double-blind Controlled, Parallel-group Designed Trial.

A randomized, double-blind controlled, parallel-group designed trial was performed to investigate the effect of alpha linolenic acid (ALA)-enriched diacylglycerol (DAG) on visceral fat area (VFA) in obese subjects. One hundred eighty-four obese subjects were recruited and randomly allocated to two groups consuming either 2.5 g/d control triacylglycerol (TAG) or ALA-DAG for 12 wk. A 4-wk observation period followed the 12-wk consumption period. One hundred seventy-seven subjects (N=89 in the TAG group, N=88 in the ALA-DAG group) completed the study. The change in VFA at 12-wk from baseline, as the primary outcome, was significantly lower in the ALA-DAG group than in the TAG group. The reduction in VFA was significantly correlated with the baseline VFA. Body weight and waist circumference, as the secondary measures, were also significantly lower in the ALA-DAG group than in the TAG group. The reduction in the VFA was significantly correlated with body weight reduction, suggesting that the VFA reduction was a contributing factor preventing weight gain. Safety parameters and the incidence of adverse events did not differ significantly between groups. In conclusion, ALA-DAG could be useful for reducing VFA and concomitantly suppressing weight gain with no side effects.

Fecal Lipid Excretion after Consumption of a Black Tea Polyphenol Containing Beverage-Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Crossover Study.

Obesity is a serious medical condition worldwide. Inhibition of lipid absorption is very important in preventing obesity. In a previous study, we found that postprandial elevation of triacylglycerol was suppressed by the intake of black tea polyphenol (BTP). We also reported that BTP caused lipid excretion into feces in an animal study. The present study is a clinical trial that examined lipid excretion. In this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study, in the first test period participants were asked to drink either a beverage containing 55 mg BTP or a control beverage without BTP 3 times a day for 10 d. After an 11-d interval, for the second test period, they then drank the alternate test beverage 3 times a day for 10 d. During the test periods, the participants were asked to eat meals standardized according to calorie and fat content. Stool samples were obtained during the last 3 d of each test period for fecal lipid measurements. Total lipid excretion increased from 5.51±1.73 to 6.87±1.91 g/3 d after BTP intake in comparison with intake of the control beverage. These results indicated that BTP increased lipid excretion.

Green tea beverages enriched with catechins with a galloyl moiety reduce body fat in moderately obese adults: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

Objective To determine whether ingesting a green tea beverage enriched with catechins with a galloyl moiety during a meal reduces body fat in moderately obese adults. Design Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study. Subjects A total of 126 obese subjects (25 ≤ body mass index < 30 kg m(-2)) were randomly assigned to a group receiving green tea beverages without catechins (placebo), or a group receiving green tea beverages with a low or high content of catechins with a galloyl moiety. Each subject ingested 500 mL bottled green tea beverages containing 25, 180, or 279.5 mg green tea catechins (0, 149.5, or 246.5 mg catechins with a galloyl moiety, respectively), at mealtimes for 12 weeks; the subjects were instructed to ingest the beverage during the meal that had the highest fat content on that day. Methods Anthropometric measurements and blood chemistry analysis were performed during the run-in period; at weeks 0, 4, 8, and 12 of the intake period; and at the end of the withdrawal period. Abdominal fat area was measured by computed tomography at weeks 0, 8, and 12 of the intake period and at the end of the withdrawal period. Results Both the low- and high-dose groups exhibited significant reductions in visceral and subcutaneous fat areas compared to the control group at 12 weeks post-intervention. Conclusion Ingestion of a green tea beverage enriched with catechins with a galloyl moiety during a high-fat meal reduces body fat in moderately obese adults.

Daily intake of rosehip extract decreases abdominal visceral fat in preobese subjects: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Obesity has become a great problem all over the world. We repeatedly screened to find an effective food to treat obesity and discovered that rosehip extract shows potent anti-obesity effects. Investigations in mice have demonstrated that rosehip extract inhibits body weight gain and decreases visceral fat. Thus, the present study examined the effect of rosehip extract on human body fat in preobese subjects. METHODS: We conducted a 12-week, single-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of 32 subjects who had a body mass index of ≥25 but <30. The subjects were assigned to two random groups, and they received one tablet of placebo or rosehip that contained 100 mg of rosehip extract once each day for 12 weeks with no dietary intervention. Abdominal fat area and body fat percent were measured as primary outcomes. The other outcomes were body weight and body mass index. RESULTS: Abdominal total fat area, abdominal visceral fat area, body weight, and body mass index decreased significantly in the rosehip group at week 12 compared with their baseline levels (P<0.01) after receiving the rosehip tablet intake, and the decreases in these parameters were significantly higher when compared with those in the placebo group. Additionally, body fat percent tended to decrease compared with the placebo group and their baseline level. Moreover, the abdominal subcutaneous fat area was significantly lower in the rosehip group than in the placebo group at week 12 after the initiation of intake (P<0.05). In addition, there were no abnormalities, subjective symptoms, and findings that may indicate clinical problems during the study period. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that rosehip extract may be a good candidate food material for preventing obesity.

Effect of an excess intake of casein hydrolysate containing Val-Pro-Pro and Ile-Pro-Pro in subjects with normal blood pressure, high-normal blood pressure, or mild hypertension.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of ingesting an excess of tablets containing casein hydrolysate, incorporating angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides such as Val-Pro-Pro (VPP) and Ile-Pro-Pro (IPP), in subjects with blood pressure ranging from normal to mild hypertension. A total of 48 subjects were given either 5 times more than the effective amount of casein hydrolysate or a placebo in tablet form for 4 weeks. In the active group, systolic blood pressure (SBP) decreased significantly as compared with the placebo group. In stratified analysis, however, this antihypertensive effect was not found in normotensive subjects. In addition, neither an acute or nor an excessive reduction in blood pressure nor clinically important adverse events were observed in this study. These findings suggest that intake of a 5-fold excess of tablets containing casein hydrolysate can lead to a mild improvement in hypertension without side effects.