Does PGX help people lose weight in non-dieting obese or overweight subjects?
Effects of a 3-month supplementation with a novel soluble
highly viscous polysaccharide on anthropometry and blood lipids in nondieting
overweight or obese adults
M. Lyon, S.
Wood, X. Pelletier, Y. Donazzolo, R. Gahler & F. Bellisle
Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. 2011. DOI:
10.1111/j.1365-277X.2011.01157.x
High viscosity fibre is known to exert many beneficial effects
on appetite and metabolism. High viscosity fibre is known to exert many beneficial effects on appetite and metabolism. This study tests the potential to help in weight management in nondieting individuals.
The present study investigated the
effects of the daily intake of the novel high viscosity polysaccharide
(PGX®-PolyGlycopleX®) over 3 months in nondieting obese or overweight subjects.
Participants were told not to change anything in their daily routine.
The study comprised a double-blind, randomised controlled
clinical trial. Participants ingested 5–15 g per day of either PGX® (29 participants)
or the popularly used fibre, Inulin (30 participants) for 15 weeks. Changes in
weight, waist and hip circumferences, blood lipids and other parameters were
studied over the 15 weeks.
Compliance and tolerance were also examined.
Differences appeared between PGX® and inulin supplementation
in female participants. At
the end of the study of 15 Weeks, a decrease in body weight of approximately
3.5 lbs (1.6kg) or about 2% of
initial weight was determine in the PGX® group. The women in the Inulin group on average gained weight
slightly, approximately 0.45 lbs (0.2kgs). Hip circumference decreased by approximately 1.1/10” (2.8
cm) in women of the PGX® group but only by approximately 1/5” (0.5 cm) in the Inulin
group. Waist circumference
decreased by approximately 1.5” (3.7 cm) in the PGX® group and by approximately
0.4” (1 cm) in the Inulin group for female participants.
Cholesterol levels were lower at the end of supplementation
in the women of the PGX® group by approximately 8.9% for Total cholesterol and
13.22% for LDL cholesterol. The
Inulin on the other hand showed a rise in Total cholesterol of approximately
1.4 % and no change for the LDL
levels for female participant. No
difference was noted in the number or severity of the adverse effects reported
in both groups. Adverse effects were generally mild and agreed with commonly
reported reactions to intake of dietary fibre.
Beneficial modest effects appeared after several weeks of
daily PGX® intake in nondieting obese or overweight women compared to ingestion
of comparable quantities of the commonly used Inulin fibre.
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