title: Complementary treatment of obesity and overweight with salacia reticulata and vitamin d.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Indian plant root Salacia reticulata, which is rich in alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, is used for metabolic disorders in Ayurvedic medicine. Vitamin D₃ is also used in the treatment of some metabolic diseases. Our goal was to determine its potential effect for humans with obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a randomized open-label study, we investigated 40 healthy participants aged 30 - 60 years, physically active, with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 - 45. The participants were randomly allocated into two groups. Body weight, BMI, and body composition were measured. Both groups (A and B) received a guideline for lifestyle and fitness training for 4 weeks. Group B additionally took one capsule containing 200 mg of Salacia reticulata and 1.6 µg (i. e. 64 IU) Vitamin D₃ (SRD) 3 times/day with the meals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant weight and body-fat reduction within 4 weeks was observed. Group A lost 1.8 kg or 2.1 %, group B lost 5.3 kg or 6.1 % (p = 0.03), therefore BMI reduction was achieved. While Group A lost 1.4 % of body fat, group B reduced it by 4.5 % (p = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These promising results suggest that the combination of Salacia reticulata and Vitamin D₃ might be highly valuable and potent to treat overweight and obesity, especially in addition to a modifying lifestyle program. Further research is needed in addition to this study to clarify pathways and effect mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Physiology, University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ofner
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tomaschitz
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Private Hospital Hansa Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wonisch
authors.affiliation: Stronach Research Unit for Complementary and Integrative Laser Medicine, Research Unit of Biomedical Engineering in Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, and TCM Research Center Graz, Medical University of Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Litscher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D050177:Overweight / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry*; D049918:Salacia / Q000737:chemistry*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D014807:Vitamin D
keywords: Salacia reticulata; exadipin; lifestyle; obesity; overweight; training; vitamin D