Daily ingestion of grains of paradise (Aframomum melegueta) extract increases whole-body energy expenditure and decreases visceral fat in humans.
We reported previously that a single ingestion of an alcohol extract of grains of paradise (GP, Aframomum melegueta), a species of the ginger family, increases energy expenditure (EE) through the activation of brown adipose tissue, a site of sympathetically mediated metabolic theromogenesis. The present study aimed to examine a daily ingestion of GP extract on whole-body EE and body fat in humans. Whole-body EE and body fat content were measured before and after daily oral ingestion of GP extract (30 mg/d) for 4 wk in 19 non-obese female volunteers aged 20-22 y in a single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover design. Four-week daily ingestion of GP and a placebo decreased and increased slightly the visceral fat area at the umbilicus level, respectively. The GP-induced change was significantly different from that induced by the placebo (p<0.05), and negatively correlated with the initial visceral fat area (r=-0.64, p<0.01). Neither GP nor placebo ingestion affected subcutaneous or total fat. The daily ingestion of GP, but not the placebo, increased whole-body EE (p<0.05). These results suggest that GP extract may be an effective and safe tool for reducing body fat, mainly by preventing visceral fat accumulation.
Department of Nutrition, School of Nursing and Nutrition, Tenshi Collage.
Jun
J
Sugita
Takeshi
T
Yoneshiro
Yuuki
Y
Sugishima
Takeshi
T
Ikemoto
Hideyo
H
Uchiwa
Isao
I
Suzuki
Masayuki
M
Saito
D002001:Adipose Tissue, Brown / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D055815:Young Adult; D030521:Zingiberaceae / Q000737:chemistry*
D010936:Plant Extracts