(P15-030-24) Herbal Blends Targeting Core Aspects of Weight Management: A Pre-clinical and Clinical Pilot Study

Objectives: There are a variety of challenges in weight control, e.g., motivation at the beginning, calories intake control, body’s response to food, muscle maintenance during weight loss, stress/emotional eating/snacking, etc. Currently, we explored various botanical blends targeting different approaches which are core aspects in weight management, which are blood orange extract (Moro) + Opuntia ficus-indica fruit powder (SMW) for metabolism support; Mulberry leaf extract + Agaricus bisporus extract (ME) for body’s response to food; and soluble fiber from guar gum + GABA + lemon balm extract (SNW) for appetite/craving control and positive mindset. Weight loss effects were observed in a high fat diet (HFD) mice model in a 28-day treatment and in a 2-week internal pilot human trial.

Methods: Animal study: A high fat diet (HFD) mice model was used. C57/6J mice were randomly assigned to a normal control, a model control, and the test blend groups. Test blends were incorporated in the high fat diet simultaneously when HFD were initiated. Mice were administrated an ad libitum diet for 28 days. Body weights were recorded twice/week.

Human study: An open-labelled, self-controlled internal pilot study. Subjects of 20-50 years of age, who had weight control desire were recruited. All subjects received a weight management intervention that included consumption of SMW (1 serving/day) and ME (1 serving/day with heavy meal), a recommended diet control regimen including a full/partial meal replacement formulation with protein and soluble fibers for breakfast or supper for 14 days. Light exercises were encouraged. Body weight, BMI, and body mass; circumferences of arm, waist, abdomen, and hip were measured in baseline and at the end of day 14.

Results: In animal study, significant reductions of body weight in ME and SNW groups were observed, and no significant weight loss found in SMW. In human study, 52 subjects (10 males and 42 females) with BMI 23.5 ± 3.26 kg/m² in average were included. At day 14, body weight and body fat mass significantly reduced -2.3 kg and -0.5 kg (p < 0.05) in average as compared to baseline. And body circumferences were also significantly reduced.

Conclusions: Test botanical blends were effective in weight management and 14-day human intervention suggested a positive onset of weight management.

Funding Sources: Nu Skin Enterprises