Scientists study an herbal extract powder that helps people reduce body fat

People eager to shed a few pounds could try an herbal powder made from three Korean medicinal herbs, a study in the BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine suggests. The research, led by a team from Inje University in South Korea, found that YY-312, a herbal powder made from the extracts of cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica), satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu), and evodia (Evodia officinalis), can significantly reduce body fat without any adverse effects.

Obesity and overweight, in particular, refer to the abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat which can impair a person’s health. Currently, many countries around the world are grappling with these issues, especially since 1.9 billion people are overweight, according to the World Health Organization — with 650 million of them considered obese. To determine if a person is overweight or obese, the WHO recommends looking at his body mass index (BMI), a ratio that determines a person’s ideal weight based on his height. If a person has a BMI greater than or equal to 25, he is overweight, and a BMI of 30 or more makes him obese.

South Korea, where the study was held, has one of the lowest obesity rates in the world; however, studies have shown that it has risen steadily over the past decade. Currently, about 30 percent of adults in Korea are overweight, and 4 percent are obese. The U.S., in comparison, has an obesity rate of nearly 40 percent, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

These rates are especially alarming, given that obesity is a risk factor for multiple chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and even some forms of cancer. Cardiovascular disease, in particular, is the leading cause of death worldwide, with most deaths caused by heart disease and stroke. (Related: Fermented garlic may be the answer to obesity prevention, researchers discover.)

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In the study, the team looked at the anti-obesity properties of YY-312, in particular, when used in a clinical setting — as earlier studies have proven the ability of YY-312 using animal studies. The randomized, double-blind clinical trial, which ran for 12 weeks, involved Korean adults aged 19 to 60 years. The adults were all overweight, with body mass indices ranging from 25–29.9 kg/m². The participants were instructed to reduce their diet and supplement with YY-312 after every meal. They were also asked to take note of their diet and physical activity and regularly submit it for review.

Before the start of the trial, the researchers measured the participants’ weight, waist circumference, body fat mass, and body fat percentage, among others. These were measured again halfway through the trial, and once again after the tests concluded. The researchers found that those who took YY-312 had greater reductions in body fat mass and percentage over those who took a placebo. Reductions in waist circumference and body weight of those treated with YY-312 were also greater those in the placebo group. These were all within normal limits, which indicated that YY-312 did not pose any side effects during and after treatment.

“YY-312 resulted in significantly greater reductions in body fat compared to placebo, while being safe and well tolerated,” the researchers concluded in their study. “In future studies, the long-term efficacy and safety of YY-312 should be examined in a larger number of participants.”

Learn more on natural supplements for weight management at FightObesity.news.

Sources include:

Science.news

BMCComplementAlternMed.BioMedCentral.com

WHO.int

OECD.org

CDC.gov