Dietary Medium-Chain Triacylglycerols Suppress Accumulation of Body Fat in a Double-Blind, Controlled Trial in Healthy Men and Women

ABSTRACT Background Aronia melanocarpa is a rich source of (poly)phenols. Previous research has demonstrated that these berries may provide cardiovascular health benefits in high-risk populations. However, very few studies have investigated the effects of daily consumption of dietary achievable amounts of the berries in healthy subjects. Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of aronia berries on vascular function and gut microbiota composition in a healthy population. Methods A double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel designed study was conducted in 66 healthy men randomly allocated to consume a (poly)phenol-rich extract (116 mg, 75 g berries), a whole fruit powder (12 mg, 10 g berries), or placebo (maltodextrin) for 12 wk. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD), arterial stiffness, blood pressure, heart rate, and serum biochemistry were assessed. Plasma (poly)phenol metabolites were analyzed by LC-MS. Gut microbiota composition was determined via 16S rRNA sequencing in stool samples. Results Consumption of aronia whole fruit and extract powder for 12 wk led to a significant increase in FMD over control of 0.9% ± 0.4% (95% CI: 0.13%, 1.72%) and 1.2% ± 0.4% (95% CI: 0.36%, 1.97%), respectively. Acute improvements in FMD were also observed 2 h after consumption of aronia extract on day 1 (1.1% ± 0.3%, P = 0.003) and 12 wk later (1.5% ± 0.4%, P = 0.0001). Circulating plasma phenolic metabolites increased upon consumption of the aronia treatments. Although no changes were found in gut microbiota diversity, consumption of aronia extract increased the growth of Anaerostipes (+10.6%, P = 0.01), whereas aronia whole fruit showed significant increases in Bacteroides (+193%, P = 0.01). Correlation analysis identified significant associations between changes in FMD, aronia-derived phenolic metabolites, and specific gut microbial genera. Conclusions In healthy men, consumption of aronia berry (poly)phenols improved endothelial function and modulated gut microbiota composition, indicating that regular aronia consumption has the potential to maintain cardiovascular health in individuals at low risk of cardiovascular disease. This trial was registered at CLINICALTRIALs.gov as NCT03041961.

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Correction: Marhuenda, J., et al. A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial to Determine the Effectiveness a Polyphenolic Extract (Hibiscus sabdariffa and Lippia citriodora) in the Reduction of Body Fat Mass in Healthy Subjects. Foods 2020, 9(1), 55

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods9030279 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 279

Author(s):

Javier Marhuenda ◽

Silvia Perez-Piñero ◽

Desirée Victoria-Montesinos ◽

María Salud Abellán-Ruiz ◽

Nuria Caturla ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Fat ◽

Fat Mass ◽

Healthy Subjects ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Body Fat Mass ◽

Hibiscus Sabdariffa ◽

Double Blind ◽

Double Blind Placebo ◽

Lippia Citriodora ◽

Polyphenolic Extract

The authors wish to make the following correction to this paper [...]

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A multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effect of consuming Growing Up Milk “Lite” on body composition in children aged 12–23 mo

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition ◽

10.1093/ajcn/nqy302 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 109 (3) ◽

pp. 576-585 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Clare R Wall ◽

Rebecca J Hill ◽

Amy L Lovell ◽

Misa Matsuyama ◽

Tania Milne ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Composition ◽

Young Children ◽

Body Fat ◽

Fat Mass ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Mean Difference ◽

Cow Milk ◽

Growing Up ◽

Double Blind ◽

Percentage Body Fat

ABSTRACT Background Growing Up Milk (GUM) was developed to assist young children in meeting their nutritional requirements during the second year of life. However, there is limited evidence that GUM improves nutritional status and growth in young children. Objectives To evaluate the effect of consuming Growing Up Milk “Lite” (GUMLi) (reduced protein with synbiotics and micronutrients added) compared with standard cow milk as part of a whole diet for 1 y on body composition at 2 y of age. Methods GUMLi Trial was a multicenter, double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial conducted in Auckland and Brisbane. Healthy 1-y-olds were recruited and randomly assigned to receive either GUMLi or standard cow milk for 12 mo as part of a whole diet. The primary outcome was percentage body fat at 2 y of age measured by bioelectrical impedance. All regression models adjusted for baseline outcome and study center. Results 160 children (80 per arm) were randomly assigned, and 134 (67 per arm) were included in the modified intention-to-treat analyses. The mean percentage body fat at 12 mo was 23.3% (SD 7.9) in the GUMLi group and 25.7% (SD 7.2) in the cow milk group. After adjusting for baseline outcome and study location, the estimated mean difference in percentage body fat between the intervention and control at 12 mo was −2.19% (95% CI: −4.24, −0.15; P = 0.036). Per-protocol analysis showed a similar effect (mean difference: −2.09%; 95% CI: −4.16, −0.03; P = 0.047). Both fat mass and the fat mass index were significantly lower in the GUMLi group at 12 mo than in the cow milk group. Conclusions At 2 y of age, children who consumed a GUM with a lower protein content than cow milk over 12 mo had a lower percentage of body fat. This trial was registered at the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry as ACTRN12614000918628.

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Effect of Oral Ingestion of Low-Molecular Collagen Peptides Derived from Skate (Raja Kenojei) Skin on Body Fat in Overweight Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Marine Drugs ◽

10.3390/md17030157 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 17 (3) ◽

pp. 157 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Young Tak ◽

Yun Kim ◽

Jeong Lee ◽

Yu-Hyun Yi ◽

Young Cho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Fat ◽

Animal Studies ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Double Blind ◽

Collagen Peptides ◽

Collagen Peptide ◽

Skin Collagen ◽

Overweight Adults

Recent animal studies found the potential of a collagen peptide derived from skate skin to have anti-obesity effects through the suppression of fat accumulation and regulation of lipid metabolism. However, no studies have yet been performed in humans. Here, this very first human randomized, placebo-controlled, and double-blinded study was designed to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of skate skin collagen peptides (SCP) for the reduction of body fat in overweight adults. Ninety healthy volunteers (17 men) aged 41.2 ± 10.4 years with a mean body mass index of 25.6 ± 1.9 kg/m2 were assigned to the intervention group (IG), which received 2000 mg of SCP per day or to the control group (CG) given the placebo for 12 weeks and 81 (90%) participants completed the study. Changes in body fat were evaluated using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry as a primary efficacy endpoint. After 12 weeks of the trial, the percentage of body fat and body fat mass (kg) in IG were found to be significantly better than those of subjects in CG (−1.2% vs. 2.7%, p = 0.024 and −1.2 kg vs. 0.3 kg, p = 0.025). Application of SCP was well tolerated and no notable adverse effect was reported from both groups. These results suggest the beneficial potential of SCP in the reduction of body fat in overweight adults.

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