alpha-cyclodextrin and Obesity

The prevalence of pre-diabetes and of type 2 diabetes mellitus is increasing. Preventing disease progression is important to improve outcomes. Natural products are becoming popular alternatives to pharmaceutical products for preventative health and treatment of disease; however, the evidence to support the use of natural alternatives for pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes is lacking. Two such natural medicines include alpha-cyclodextrin (marketed as FBCx), a fibre derived from corn starch that has been found to bind triglycerides in the intestines to prevent its absorption, aiding weight maintenance and lipid control, and hydrolysed ginseng extract (marketed as GINST15), a formula containing high amounts of Compound K, a metabolite of ginsenosides thought to be an active ingredient contributing to the anti-hyperglycaemic effects of ginseng. This paper describes the rationale and design of a 12-month randomized controlled trial to investigate the metabolic effects of these two products in people with pre-diabetes and overweight or obesity. A total of 400 participants will be randomized to one of four groups (FBCx + GINST15, FBCx + placebo, placebo + GINST15, placebo + placebo) for 6 months, followed by 6 months of follow-up. Participants will also receive lifestyle advice for healthy eating and weight loss. Data collected during the trial will include weight, waist circumference, body composition and blood pressure. Blood samples will also be collected to measure lipid profile and glycaemia. If the products are found to improve lipid and glucose levels, it will provide evidence for their use in people with pre-diabetes to help reduce the risk of progression to type 2 diabetes.

Topics: Adult; alpha-Cyclodextrins; Blood Glucose; Body Weight; Cholesterol; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Female; Ginsenosides; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity; Overweight; Prediabetic State; Triglycerides

This study was designed to investigate a new dietary fiber, alpha-cyclodextrin, marketed under the trade name FBCx (Wacker Biochem, Adrian, MI), for beneficial effects on weight reduction and the improvement of certain blood parameters in rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups and fed ad libitum for a period of 6 weeks: (1) a normal low-fat diet (LF; 4% fat wt/wt); (2) an LF diet with FBCx added; (3) a high-fat diet (HF, 40% fat wt/wt); and (4) an HF diet with FBCx. The FBCx was added at the rate of 10% (wt/wt) of the fat in the diet. Body weight and food intake were recorded 3 times per week. Plasma constituent levels and liver and fecal lipid contents, as well as body composition were determined at sacrifice. Adding FBCx to the diet significantly reduced weight gain in rats fed with an HF diet relative to rats fed with the HF control diet (P < .05). FBCx also elicited a reduction in plasma triglyceride levels of 30%, total cholesterol of 9%, and increased the fat content of the feces in the rats fed with the HF diet with FBCx. In addition, the serum leptin levels were normalized, and the calculated insulin sensitivity was improved. No adverse effects were observed in the rats consuming FBCx. It would appear that FBCx might be effective in reducing body weight gain and improving metabolic syndrome.

Topics: alpha-Cyclodextrins; Animals; Blood Glucose; Body Composition; Body Weight; Cholesterol; Dietary Fats; Dietary Fiber; Eating; Feces; Insulin; Leptin; Liver; Male; Obesity; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Triglycerides