Journal List > J Nutr Health > v.47(1) > 1081342

Min, Han, Kwon, Yeo, Kim, and Ly: The effect of Sargassum confusum on reduction of body fat in obese women∗

Abstract

Purpose

This study was conducted in order to investigate the effect of Sargassum confusum extracts on the reduction of body fat for eight weeks in overweight women (BMI ≧ 23 kg/m2). Methods: Subjects were classified by double-blind randomized trial as the control group (C group, n = 14) and the Sargassum confusum extract supplementation group (SC group, n = 16), which consumed 12 tablets per day. Questionnaires related to their health status were assessed twice (week 0 and week 8). Their dietary intake status was evaluated by 24-recall method and body compositions were measured using a bioelectrical impedance analyzer. In addition, we assessed the anti-obesity effect and the occurrence possibility of health risk factors during the supplementation periods by hematological and clinical analysis of blood. Results: Waist circumference and body fat (%) were significantly decreased in the SC group. Serum leptin level was also significantly decreased in the SC group. Defecation frequency was significantly increased in the SC group. The above results indicate that Sargassum confusum extract supplementation improves overweight on visceral fat and blood leptin level by increasing bowel movement. These results imply a decrease of health risk factors in overweight women. Seven subjects withdrew from the study due to adverse events; however, no differences regarding adverse events were observed between the control and treatment group. Conclusion: Therefore, Sargassum confusum extract is a plausible effective agent for body fat reduction in humans.

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Table 1.
Composition of the Sargassum confusum supplement
Group Placebo (C group) Intervention (SC group) Level (%)
Ingredients Crystal cellulose granule Sargassum confusum granule 1) 96.0
Magnesium Stearate Magnesium Stearate 02.0
Silicon dioxide Silicon dioxide 02.0

1) Extract content of Sargassum confusum in Sargassum confusum graunule was 59.5%

Table 2.
Baseline values and changes in anthropometric measurements and body composition by Sargassum confusum extract supplementation
Variable Groups Experimental period Change during 8 weeks
Baseline Week-4 Week-8
Weight (kg) C1) (n = 14)2)
SC (n = 16)
69.05 ± 8.53)
70.13 ± 7.09
68.04 ± 8.684)
69.25 ± 6.93
67.79 ± 8.78
68.66 ± 7.19
–1.26 ± 1.5
−1.47 ± 1.74
BMI (kg/m 2) C
SC
27.21 ± 3.32
27.19 ± 1.82
26.77 ± 3.35
26.86 ± 1.78
26.71 ± 3.36
26.66 ± 1.99
–0.50 ± 0.62
-0.53 ± 0.65
Waist cir. (cm) C
SC
87.57 ± 9.13
88.50 ± 5.90
86.86 ± 7.60
83.56 ± 5.44∗∗
88.43 ± 7.95
82.25 ± 5.27§5),∗∗∗,6)
–0.86 ± 4.83
-6.25 ± 4.56
Arm cir. (cm) C
SC
31.13 ± 2.71
31.20 ± 1.71
30.76 ± 2.76∗∗
30.82 ± 1.64∗∗
30.71 ± 2.77
30.67 ± 1.7∗∗∗
–0.42 ± 0.41
-0.53 ± 0.55
Fat mass (kg) C
SC
25.55 ± 6.43
25.97 ± 3.46
24.56 ± 6.41∗∗
25.28 ± 3.63∗∗
24.70 ± 6.15
24.76 ± 3.83§,∗∗
–0.85 ± 1.45
-1.21 ± 1.18
Body fat (%) C
SC
36.62 ± 4.75
37.03 ± 3.35
35.70 ± 4.79
36.50 ± 3.54
36.04 ± 4.36
36.06 ± 3.69§,∗∗
–0.59 ± 1.45
-0.97 ± 1.04

1) The experimental groups are as follows. C: control, SC: intervention group with Sargassum confusum extract.

2) Number of observation

3) Values are expressed as Mean ± SD.

4) Significantly different between baseline and week-4 or week-8 within each group by paired t-test

: p < 0.05,

∗∗ : p < 0.01,

∗∗∗ : p < 0.001

5) Significantly different between week-4 and week-8 within each group by paired t-test

§ : pp < 0.05

6) Significantly different between the control and the intervention group by independent t-test

: p < 0.05

Table 3.
Baseline values and changes in blood lipids and leptin levels and laboratory findings for safety of the subjects by Sargassum confusum extract supplementation
Variable 1) Groups2) Experimental period Change during 8 weeks
Baseline Week-4 Week-8
TG (mg/dL) C (n = 14)3)
SC (n = 16)
104.70 ± 53.674)
115.71 ± 61.11
068.33 ± 42.09∗∗5)
54.21 ± 23.64∗∗∗
075.98 ± 58.59
067.56 ± 30.48∗∗
–28.72 ± 39.170
-48.15 ± 57.000
TC (mg/dL) C
SC
172.93 ± 32.36
186.75 ± 44.58
171.93 ± 28.83
184.38 ± 37.22
169.07 ± 28.97
184.13 ± 37.67
–3.86 ± 26.040
-2.63 ± 19.770
Free fatty acid (μEq/L) C
SC
506.07 ± 218.73
495.75 ± 252.13
518.14 ± 198.79
469.38 ± 229.97
416.29 ± 126.16§6)
454.19 ± 172.32
–89.79 ± 222.52
-41.56 ± 174.52
Leptin (ng/mL) C
SC
15.44 ± 8.70
19.25 ± 7.47
015.26 ± 6.54
15.90 ± 9.67
015.25 ± 6.30
13.10 ± 6.99
–0.19 ± 10.610
-6.15 ± 11.380
AST (U/L) C
SC
23.06 ± 3.72
24.63 ± 5.72
23.50 ± 5.16
21.92 ± 3.94
23.68 ± 3.10
24.16 ± 4.32
0.62 ± 2.4900
-0.47 ± 5.1300
ALT (U/L) C
SC
19.51 ± 6.11
18.78 ± 7.93
19.54 ± 7.99
13.78 ± 4.50∗∗,7)
17.88 ± 7.77
16.18 ± 5.57§
–1.63 ± 4.1300
-2.60 ± 5.5600
Total-bilirubin (mg/dL) C
SC
0.71 ± 0.19
0.74 ± 0.15
0.78 ± 0.11
0.74 ± 0.17
0.77 ± 0.15
0.72 ± 0.13
0.05 ± 0.18
-0.02 ± 0.1200
Total-protein (g/dL) C
SC
7.81 ± 0.45
8.21 ± 0.54
7.36 ± 0.48∗∗
7.47 ± 0.49∗∗∗,
8.22 ± 0.56§§§,
8.64 ± 0.60§§§,∗∗∗
0.30 ± 0.50
0.08 ± 0.4300
Calcium (mg/dL) C
SC
10.21 ± 1.39
10.96 ± 1.30
9.99 ± 0.86
9.96 ± 0.67
10.29 ± 1.07
10.46 ± 0.94
1.28 ± 2.07
0.42 ± 1.23
Phosphorous (mg/dL) C
SC
4.54 ± 0.40
4.70 ± 0.50
5.60 ± 0.65∗∗∗
5.79 ± 0.38∗∗∗
5.36 ± 0.42∗∗∗
5.36 ± 0.43§§,∗∗∗
1.29 ± 0.49
1.29 ± 0.38

1) TG: triacylglycerol, TC: total cholesterol, AST: aspartate transaminase, ALT: alanine transaminase

2) The experimental groups are as follows. C: control, SC: intervention group with Sargassum confusum extract

3) Number of observation

4) Values are expressed as Mean ± SD.

5) Significantly different within group at baseline and week-4 or week-8 by paired t-test

: p < 0.05,

∗∗ : p < 0.01,

∗∗∗ : p < 0.001

6) Significantly different within group at week-4 and week-8 by paired t-test.

§ : p < 0.05,

§§ : p < 0.01,

§§§ : p < 0.001

7) Significantly different between groups by independent t-test.

: p < 0.05

Table 4.
Baseline values and changes in daily nutrient intake levels by Sargassum confusum extract supplementation
Nutrient Groups 1) Before experiment During 8 weeks Change during 8 weeks
Energy (kcal/day) C (n = 14)2)
SC (n = 16)
430.5 ± 589.53)
419.8 ± 407.6
386.3 ± 363.5
453.5 ± 313.1
–44.2 ± 456.80
33.7 ± 463.2
Carbohydrate (g/day) C
SC
208.9 ± 77.20
198.2 ± 71.08
193.8 ± 45.3
202.5 ± 46.7
–15.1 ± 61.6
4.4 ± 68.4
Protein (g/day) C SC 51.2 ± 24.2
50.2 ± 18.2
55.8 ± 15.2
58.4 ± 13.3
4.6 ± 21.4
8.2 ± 21.7
Fat (g/day) C
SC
45.9 ± 36.5
48.2 ± 17.3
42.3 ± 14.8
45.1 ± 11.8
–3.5 ± 32.5
-3.1 ± 20.0
Dietary fiber (g/day) C
SC
15.9 ± 8.4
12.9 ± 7.1
14.6 ± 3.9
15.4 ± 4.3
–1.3 ± 8.1
2.5 ± 7.0
Vitamin A (R.E/day) C
SC
381.2 ± 219.3
643.4 ± 353.1
712.6 ± 230.0∗∗∗4)
753.7 ± 230.6
331.5 ± 236.7
110.25 ± 407.82
Vitamin B1 (mg/day) C
SC
0.96 ± 0.66
0.94 ± 0.35
0.90 ± 0.23
0.94 ± 0.21
–0.06 ± 0.6
0.01 ± 0.4
Vitamin B2 (mg/day) C
SC
0.71 ± 0.45
0.79 ± 0.3
0.95 ± 0.37
1.01 ± 0.36
0.24 ± 0.41
0.22 ± 0.43
Vitamin C (mg/day) C
SC
75.9 ± 51.2
59.5 ± 36.0
71.3 ± 24.1
71.2 ± 27.1
–4.6 ± 52.0
11.7 ± 36.4
Sodium (mg/day) C
SC
5.1 ± 1351.7
3381.1 ± 2127.6
356.6 ± 955.8
300.6 ± 930.8
351.5 ± 1331.2
-80.5 ± 1989.3
Calcium (mg/day) C
SC
363.6 ± 190.0
341.8 ± 171.2
424.6 ± 145.4
441.9 ± 146.9
61.0 ± 201.0
100.2 ± 176.5
Phosphorous (mg/day) C
SC
690.5 ± 264.7
709.6 ± 282.0
766.4 ± 211.5
814.2 ± 211.3
75.9 ± 249.8
104.5 ± 326.0

1) The experimental groups are as follows. C: control, SC: intervention group with Sargassum confusum extract

2) Number o observation

3) Values are expressed as mean ± SD.

4) Significantly different between groups by independent t-test

: p < 0.05

∗∗∗ : p < 0.001

Table 5.
Baseline values and changes in defecation frequency and water intakes by Sargassum confusum extract supplementation
Variable Groups 1) Before experiment During 8 weeks Change during 8 weeks
Defecation frequency (times/day) C (n = 14) 2)
SC (n = 16)
0.93 ± 0.18 3)
0.87 ± 0.50
1.03 ± 0.35
1.32 ± 0.39∗∗4)5)
0.10 ± 0.37
0.45 ± 0.53
Water intakes (cup/day) C
SC
4.57 ± 3.46
3.38 ± 1.46
4.62 ± 3.69
5.03 ± 2.41
0.16 ± 2.17
1.68 ± 2.87

1) The experimental groups are as follows. C: control, SC: intervention group with Sargassum confusum extract

2) Number of observation

3) Values are expressed as mean ± SD.

4) Significantly different within group at before and during experiment by paired t-test

: p < 0.05,

∗∗ : p < 0.01

5) Significantly different between groups by independent t-test

: p < 0.05

Table 6.
Adverse effects during the intervention study
Adverse effects Groups Week 0 to 4 Week 4 to 8
None Mild Moderate p-value None Mild Moderate p-value
Dizziness C (n = 14)
SC (n = 16)
8 (57.1)
11 (68.8)
5 (35.7)
4 (25.0)
1 (07.2)
1 (06.2)
0.482 9 (64.3)
11 (68.8)
4 (28.6)
4 (25.0)
1 (07.1)
1 (06.3)
0.482
Edema C
SC
10 (71.4)
12 (75.0)
4 (28.6)
4 (25.0)
0 (00.0)
0 (00.0)
0.825 11 (78.6)
12 (75.0)
2 (14.3)
4 (25.0)
1 (07.1)
0 (00.0)
0.453
Weekness C
SC
6 (42.9)
8 (50.0)
6 (42.8)
7 (43.8)
2 (14.3)
1 (06.3)
0.609 9 (64.2)
6 (37.5)
2 (14.3)
8 (50.0)
3 (21.4)
2 (12.6)
0.327
Flatulence C
SC
11 (78.6)
11 (68.8)
3 (21.4)
3 (18.8)
0 (00.0)
2 (12.6)
0.599 20 (71.4)
10 (62.5)
3 (21.4)
4 (25.0)
1 (07.1)
2 (12.6)
0.723
Indigestion C
SC
12 (85.7)
13 (81.3)
1 (07.1)
2 (12.5)
1 (07.1)
1 (06.3)
0.522 9 (64.2)
8 (50.0)
4 (28.6)
6 (37.5)
1 (07.1)
2 (12.6)
0.685
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