Premium
Effects of Brown Seaweed and Licorice on Blood Glucose and Weight Loss in Moderately Overweight Subjects
Author(s) -
Talbott Shawn,
Talbott Tracy,
Dingler Elaine,
Talbott Julie
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.819.32
Subject(s) - overweight , fucoxanthin , glycyrrhiza , placebo , waist , medicine , weight loss , endocrinology , zoology , obesity , carotenoid , food science , chemistry , biology , alternative medicine , pathology
Previous work in animals and humans has suggested that dietary supplementation with fucoxanthin, a carotenoid in brown seaweed, and glabridin, a flavonoid in licorice root, may have beneficial effects on fat/weight loss through an enhancement of overall metabolic rate and improved blood glucose control. METHODS Using a double‐blind, randomized, placebocontrolled design, we supplemented moderately overweight subjects (N=20 per group) for 6 weeks with a proprietary blend (550mg/day) of brown seaweed extract (Undaria pinnatifida, standardized for fucoxanthin) and licorice root extract (Glycyrrhiza glabra, standardized for glabridin) or a look‐alike Placebo. Measurements (pre/post) included body weight, body fat percentage, resting metabolic rate, waist circumference, blood glucose and cholesterol. RESULTS No significant differences were found for resting metabolic rate or cholesterol measures. Significant differences were found between the Supplement (S) and Placebo (P) groups for measures of body weight (−5lbs in S v. +3lbs in P), body fat (−4.2lbs. in S v. n/c in P), waist circumference (−1.2in in S v. n/c in P), and blood glucose (−9% in S v. n/c in P). CONCLUSION These data suggest that the supplement blend is effective in improving blood glucose control, which improves appetite regulation, and reduces body weight and body fat levels in moderately overweight subjects.