Research has shown that both menopause and the first two years post-menopause cause the body to gain fat and lose lean tissue mass. Since weight management is part of metabolic changes, we can also connect other conditions to this topic, such as metabolic syndrome, elevated blood sugar, excess abdominal fat, and elevated blood fats. One study found that post-menopausal women are more likely to meet the criteria for metabolic syndrome compared to premenopausal women. The decrease in estrogen levels in menopausal women is associated with the loss of subcutaneous fat and an increase in abdominal fat. Changes in body structure are real!
Critical Supplements for Weight Management (Metabolic) Concerns
The best approach to weight management may be to address those underlying factors contributing to weight gain/loss. Here are some of the top areas to focus on and clinically substantiated examples for weight management:
- Chromium picolinate (as Chromax® from Nutrition 21)- Research with Chromax® shows it helps reduce body fat, improve lean body mass, and positively impact body composition.[i]
- Cissus quadrangularis (as CQR-300® from Gateway Health Alliance)—A recent study with CQR-300® showed a 12.8% reduction in body fat, 8.9% reduction in waist circumference, and 7.7% reduction in hip circumference in just eight weeks.[ii]
- Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck (as MOROSIL from BIONAP)—Research with MOROSIL in a six-month study showed improvements in body weight, BMI, waist and hip circumference, and body composition.[iii]
- Citrus polyphenols (as Sinetrol® from Fytexia®) mimic the phenotype change from white to beige within adipose cells, i.e., from cells that store energy to metabolism-driven cells. In this way, Sinetrol® prevents further storage of fat within adipose tissue. Observed with DEXA scan.[iv]
- Dichrostachys glomerata (as Dyglomera® from Gateway Health Alliance)- Dyglomera® has improved body composition in 12 weeks. The percentage of body fat measured by DEXA showed a 22.85% reduction in the percentage of body fat.[v]
- Eriocitrin (as Eriomin® from Ingredients by Nature)Eriomin® does not currently have studies directly related to body composition, it is being included in this article due to the studies showing it naturally increases GLP-1 levels.[vi] [vii] Perhaps the increase in the body’s natural production will support healthy weight management and improve body composition.
- Gynostemma pentaphyllum leaf extract (as ActivAMP® from Gencor Pacific)- A 16-week study with ActivAMP® showed via DEXA positive changes In body composition, including fat mass, lean mass, and mass distribution—also improvements in hip and waist circumference.[viii]
- Irvingia gabonensis (as IGOB131® from Gateway Health Alliance)- Multiple clinical studies have shown the benefits of IGOB131® and its impact on metabolic health. One study showed statistically significant improvements in body weight and composition after ten weeks, including an 18.4% reduction in body fat. (Study included 102 overweight subjects)[ix]
- curvatus HY7601 & L. plantarum KY1032 (as FatSlim from hyLabs)—Two clinical studies show that FatSlim improves BMI, waist circumference, body fat mass, and visceral fat area by decreasing the percentage of fat with no loss in lean mass.
- Limosilactobacillus fermentum strains K7-Lb1, K8-Lb1, and K11-Lb3 (as SlimBiotic from SlimBiotics)—A recent study involving 180 subjects over three months showed improvements in body fat mass, body weight, visceral adipose tissue, waist circumference, and hip-to-waist circumference.[x]
- Modified cellulose + Celadrin® (as Trisynex from Things of That Nature)—A recent study over eight weeks showed that taking Trisynex significantly improved body weight, fat, and overall body composition.[xi]
- Phenylcapsaisin (as aXivite® from SEE Nutrition)—A study with aXivite® showed improved body composition by improving the lean-to-fat mass ratio by 7.1% and a fat mass loss of 5.2% in just 54 days (Measured by DEXA).[xii]
References:
[i] Richard A. Anderson, Effects of Chromium on Body Composition and Weight Loss, Nutrition Reviews, Volume 56, Issue 9, September 1998, Pages 266–270, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-4887.1998.tb01763.x
[ii] Nash R, Azantsa B, Kuate D, Singh H, Oben J. The Use of a Stem and Leaf Aqueous Extract of Cissus quadrangularis (CQR-300) to Reduce Body Fat and Other Components of Metabolic Syndrome in Overweight Participants. J Altern Complement Med. 2019 Jan;25(1):98-106. doi: 10.1089/acm.2018.0016.
[iii] Briskey D, Malfa GA, Rao A. Effectiveness of “Moro” Blood Orange Citrus sinensis Osbeck (Rutaceae) Standardized Extract on Weight Loss in Overweight but Otherwise Healthy Men and Women-A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study. Nutrients. 2022 Jan 18;14(3):427. doi: 10.3390/nu14030427
[iv] Park SJ, Sharma A, Bae MH, Sung HC, Kim NK, Sung E, Lee HJ. Efficacy and Safety of Sinetrol-XPur on Weight and Body Fat Reduction in Overweight or Obese Adults: A 12-Week, Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel, Placebo-Controlled Trial. J Med Food. 2020 Mar;23(3):335-342. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2019.4649. Epub 2020 March 4. PMID: 32130058.
[v] Youovop J., Takuissu G., Mbopda C., Nwang F., Ntentié R., Mbong M., Azantsa B., Singh H., Oben J.The Effects of DyglomeraⓇ(Dichrostachys glomerata extract) on Body Fat Percentage and Body Weight: A Randomized,Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Functional Foods in Health and Disease2023; 13(6):334-346,DOI:https://www.doi.org/10.31989/ffhd.v13i6.1088
[vi] Ribeiro CB, Ramos FM, Manthey JA, Cesar TB. Effectiveness of Eriomin® in managing hyperglycemia and reversal of prediabetes condition: A double-blind, randomized, controlled study. Phytother Res. 2019 Jul;33(7):1921-1933. doi: 10.1002/ptr.6386.
[vii] Cesar TB, Ramos FMM, Ribeiro CB. Nutraceutical Eriocitrin (Eriomin) Reduces Hyperglycemia by Increasing Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 and Downregulates Systemic Inflammation: A Crossover-Randomized Clinical Trial. J Med Food. 2022 Nov;25(11):1050-1058. Doi: 10.1089/jmf.2021.0181.
[viii] Rao A, Clayton P, Briskey D. The effect of an orally-dosed Gynostemma pentaphyllum extract (ActivAMP®) on body composition in overweight, adult men and women: A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2022 Jun;35(3):583-589. doi: 10.1111/jhn.12936.
[ix] Ngondi JL, Etoundi BC, Nyangono CB, Mbofung CM, Oben JE. IGOB131, a novel seed extract of the West African plant Irvingia gabonensis, significantly reduces body weight and improves metabolic parameters in overweight humans in a randomized double-blind placebo controlled investigation. Lipids Health Dis. 2009 March 2;8:7. doi: 10.1186/1476-511X-8-7
[x] Laue, C., Papazova, E., Pannenbeckers, A., & Schrezenmeir, J. Effect of a Probiotic and a Synbiotic on Body Fat Mass, Body Weight and Traits of Metabolic Syndrome in Individuals with Abdominal Overweight: A Human, Double-Blind, Randomised, Controlled Clinical Study. Nutrients, 15(13), 3039. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15133039
[xi] Fragala MS, Kraemer WJ, Volek JS, Maresh CM, Puglisi MJ, Vingren JL, Ho JY, Hatfield DL, Spiering BA, Forsythe CE, Thomas GA, Quann EE, Anderson JM, Hesslink RL Jr. Influences of a dietary supplement in combination with an exercise and diet regimen on adipocytokines and adiposity in women who are overweight. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2009 Mar;105(5):665-72. doi: 10.1007/s00421-008-0944-y.
[xii] Framroze et al., International Journal of Clinical Skills (2022) 16(7), 258-264
Final Thoughts
With a new awareness of the potential harm from weight management programs, i.e., excessive muscle loss, this is the perfect time for the dietary supplement and functional foods and beverage industries to step up and offer safer solutions for the battle of the bulge. New studies should focus more on the impact on body composition and not just on overall body weight. This article needed more space to include the underlying mechanisms of action of the ingredients mentioned. Yet, it is important to stress that ingredients can be combined in many cases to make a multipronged approach to healthier weight management products. Taking the extra time to dig further into these mechanisms of action will help you create a novel product with multiple benefits to the body.