Citrus extract may help with weight management, industry study funds
The study, funded by pharma firm RP Bio, finds that after a 12-week intervention, body weight decreased by 1.81% (1.35 – 2.40 kilograms (kg)) in those taking the Sinetrol-XPur compound vs. a 0.25% reduction in the control group.
The research team also note a BMI reduction of 2.32% (0.64 – 0.85 kg/m2) in the Sinetrol-XPur group compared with the control group 0.65% (0.18 – 0.62 kg/m2).
“In this study, Sinetrol-XPur supplementation resulted in a significant reduction of body weight in the Korean subjects,” the team writes.
“We have shown that the body fat mass content was significantly reduced with Sinetrol-XPur supplementation compared with placebo.”
“In contrast, no significant difference was reported for body fat percentage in healthy overweight adults.”
Fytexia and RP Bio
Developed by the French firm Fytexia, Sinetrol is a mixture of flavonoids, including anthocyanins and flavanones from citrus-based foods.
Sinetrol-XPur is extracted by physical methods in a concentrated form using particular varieties of orange, grapefruit, and guarana.
The potential mechanisms of Sinetrol-XPur against obesity may be based on antioxidation, antiinflammation, and lowering blood triglyceride (TG), and cholesterol contents.
Working alongside Fytexia, RP Bio have used the results to form part of a submitted dossier to the South Korean Ministry of Food & Drug Safety (MFDS) in support of Sinetrol’s effect on body composition improvement.
Along with colleagues from Gachon University and Sungkyunkwan University in Korea, the team enrolled 86 overweight or obese South Korean subjects in the randomised, double-blind, placebo-control trial.
Participants took either two Sinetrol-XPur tablets (450 milligrams (mg) per tablet) or two placebo tablets once a day for 12-weeks.
Along with the decreases in body weight and reduction in BMI, the team also found a reduction in waist circumference (-1.97cm), the visceral fat area (-14.60cm2) and total abdominal fat area (-22.64cm2) compared to the control group. However, the changes between the groups were not statistically significant.
“Our outcomes indicated that 12 weeks of Sinetrol-XPur intake might have a positive effect on ameliorating body weight, body fat mass, and BMI in overweight and obese Korean individuals. No adverse effects were observed in the participants,” the study says.
“Our data have supported the previously reported clinical studies from France. Taken together, we suggested that Sinetrol-XPur could act as a potential antiobesity compound. Further studies are warranted to investigate the long-term effects of Sinetrol-XPur.”
Mechanisms of action
Delving deeper into the Sinetrol-XPur possible mechanisms of action, the team cites studies that reveal the inhibitory action of flavonoids on the activity of an enzyme group (cAMP-phosphodiesterase) leading to rising cellular levels of cAMP, a messenger involved in biological processes.
Elevated cAMP levels stimulate fat breakdown by activating PKA, a signalling molecule. This then goes on to activates the CREB protein that leads to the increased expression of another protein UCP-2.
UCP-2 plays an important role in body weight regulation, energy stability, and thermoregulation in humans. Hence, these flavonoids could plausibly be used in the management of obesity.
Source: J Med Food
Published online ahead of print: DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2019.4649
“Efficacy and Safety of Sinetrol-XPur on Weight and Body Fat Reduction in Overweight or Obese Adults: A 12-Week, Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel, Placebo-Controlled Trial”
Authors: Seon-Joo Park et al.
