Open AccessBody Composition and Hormonal Adaptations Associated with Forskolin Consumption in Overweight and Obese Men
Author(s) -
Godard Michael P.,
Johnson Brad A.,
Richmond Scott R.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
obesity research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1550-8528
pISSN - 1071-7323
DOI - 10.1038/oby.2005.162
Subject(s) - forskolin , placebo , medicine , endocrinology , overweight , testosterone (patch) , body mass index , hormone , obesity , lean body mass , body weight , stimulation , alternative medicine , pathology
Objective : This study examined the effect of forskolin on body composition, testosterone, metabolic rate, and blood pressure in overweight and obese (BMI ≥ 26 kg/m 2 ) men. Research Methods and Procedure : Thirty subjects (forskolin, n = 15; placebo, n = 15) were studied in a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study for 12 weeks. Results : Forskolin was shown to elicit favorable changes in body composition by significantly decreasing body fat percentage (BF%) and fat mass (FM) as determined by DXA compared with the placebo group ( p ≤ 0.05). Additionally, forskolin administration resulted in a change in bone mass for the 12‐week trial compared with the placebo group ( p ≤ 0.05). There was a trend toward a significant increase for lean body mass in the forskolin group compared with the placebo group ( p = 0.097). Serum free testosterone levels were significantly increased in the forskolin group compared with the placebo group ( p ≤ 0.05). The actual change in serum total testosterone concentration was not significantly different among groups, but it increased 16.77 ± 33.77% in the forskolin group compared with a decrease of 1.08 ± 18.35% in the placebo group. Discussion : Oral ingestion of forskolin (250 mg of 10% forskolin extract twice a day) for a 12‐week period was shown to favorably alter body composition while concurrently increasing bone mass and serum free testosterone levels in overweight and obese men. The results indicate that forskolin is a possible therapeutic agent for the management and treatment of obesity.