At the KAHN CENTER, we discuss diet, exercise, and optimal weight with all patients and favor fiber rich, whole-food plant diets as close to nature as possible with wide diversity of choices.
Diet and exercise advice are routinely the primary interventions given for weight loss; however, frequently result in poor weight loss outcomes. While modern pharmaceuticals are highly effective, there exists a need for a non-pharmaceutical adjunct therapy for lifestyle change-mediated weight loss.
Recently, the gastrointestinal delivery of a bitter hop-based nutraceutical has been shown to stimulate increases in glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and cholecystokinin (CCK). Our aim was to determine if this same bitter hop nutraceutical is an effective adjunct therapy during prescribed weight loss programs.
A
new study shows that the bitter hop-based natural supplement can result in weight loss via appetite suppression.
STUDY
This was a randomized, double-blind, parallel treatment study. One hundred and fifty adult males and females were recruited and required to undertake a 24-week weight loss program consisting of monthly lifestyle advice group seminars. Daily treatments of either placebo or 500 mg of a bitter hop extract (BHE) were given to the participants, who were instructed to take half the daily dose at least 1 h before the two major meals of the day. Body weight, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) of body composition, and subjective appetite and craving measures were taken every four weeks.
RESULTS
One hundred and twenty-eight participants completed the program. The BHE treatment group exhibited a greater reduction in weight (3.8%) and fat mass (3.9 kg) after 24 weeks when compared to placebo control (p < 0.05), and a total reduction of 4.3% body weight and 4.5 kg fat mass when compared to baseline values (p < 0.05).
There was a proportionally similar reduction in BIA-estimated visceral fat area in the BHE treatment group relative to the placebo control (p < 0.05), and neither group exhibited any loss in BIA-estimated skeletal muscle mass.
CONCLUSION
These data suggest that appetite suppressing nutraceuticals may be a useful adjunct therapy for individuals receiving lifestyle change advice for the purpose of weight loss.
Gastrointestinal targeted bitter hop extract increased weight loss achieved in individuals given lifestyle advice.
Although there are many pharmaceutical options used at the KAHN CENTER to assist weight management, many do not want a drug approach and others develop side effects and want to get off but still maintain weight loss. This natural supplement derived from bitter hops represents a breakthrough that has been used at the KAHN CENTER.
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Weight loss was achieved with no indication of overall loss of muscle mass as per bioelectrical impedance analysis.
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Bitter hop extract treatment resulted in greater decreases in subjective feelings of hunger and food cravings.
