Effects of Gelidium elegans on Weight and Fat Mass Reduction and Obesity Biomarkers in Overweight or Obese Adults: A Randomized Double-Blinded Study

• Published in: Nutrients Vol. 11; no. 7; p. 1513
• Main Authors: Kim, Choon Ok, Kim, Youn Nam, Lee, Duk-Chul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 03.07.2019; MDPI
• Subjects: Abdomen; adipocytes; Adiposity - drug effects; Adult; adults; analysis of covariance; Anti-Obesity Agents - adverse effects; Anti-Obesity Agents - isolation & purification; Anti-Obesity Agents - therapeutic use; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - blood; Blood pressure; Body composition; Body mass index; Cardiovascular disease; Diabetes; Diet; Dietary Supplements - adverse effects; Diuretics; Double-Blind Method; edible seaweed; Energy intake; Female; Gelidium; Glucose; Humans; Hypertension; Insulin resistance; Laboratories; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity; Obesity - blood; Obesity - drug therapy; Obesity - physiopathology; Overweight; physical activity; placebos; Seaweed - chemistry; Steroids; Thyroid gland; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; triacylglycerols; Weight control; Weight Loss - drug effects; Young Adult; United States > US; South Korea; weight; Gelidium elegans; overweight; obese; fat mass
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu11071513

The edible seaweed Gelidium elegans (GEE) is known to inhibit adipocyte differentiation. However, there has been no report on its effects in humans. In this study, we investigated whether GEE reduces body weight or fat mass in obese or overweight individuals. A total of 78 participants were randomly assigned to the test (GEE extract 1000 mg/day) and placebo groups at a 1:1 ratio, and treated for 12 weeks. At six or 12 weeks after randomization, they were evaluated for anthropometric parameters, biomarkers, and body composition. Changes in body weight and fat mass between the two groups was significantly different, as determined using ANCOVA adjusted for baseline, calorie intake, and physical activity. Body weight and fat mass were significantly decreased by GEE after 12 weeks but increased in the placebo group. Moreover, although not significant, triglyceride levels tended to decrease after GEE intake. There was no significant difference in other laboratory biomarkers between the two groups. Taken together, these results suggested that GEE significantly reduced body weight, especially fat mass, in overweight or obese individuals.