The study, funded by Euromed and published in the journal Foods, highlighted gender-specific benefits of the newly launched product, including reducing abdominal fat and waist circumference in men and hip circumference in women.
“The decreases in fat mass and trunk fat mass, evaluated by DEXA, with statistically significant differences compared with the placebo group were remarkable,” researchers from Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia (UCAM) and Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia, Spain, wrote, noting that positive effects were seen at the trial’s midpoint.
Herbal extract supplier Euromed utilizes an extraction process to produce perFix, which uses ultra-purified water as the sole solvent. This preserves key bioactive compounds such as tannins, polyphenols and carotenoids, said the company.
Euromed claims that perFix addresses the growing demand from health-conscious consumers for natural products that bridge the gap between physical health and aesthetic enhancement. The supplement’s reported positive effects on fat loss, muscle and body proportions align with the dual goals of wellness and appearance.
“By simultaneously targeting health and aesthetics, it meets the modern consumer’s need for total wellness,” Andrea Zangara, head of scientific marketing and medical affairs at Euromed, said in a press release.
Persimmon may improve fat metabolism
Previous animal research has demonstrated potential beneficial effects on lipid and glucose metabolism by persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.f.).
It is reported to inhibit pancreatic lipase, an enzyme that breaks down fats. Tannins in the fruit can bind to bile acids, promoting their fecal excretion with fats and cholesterol. Therefore, scientists suggest the fruit may have anti-obesity and hypolipidemic properties.
The potential hypocholesterolemic effect of persimmon may also be related to the downregulation of fatty acid synthesis and genes involved in lipogenesis and an increase in transcription factors associated with fatty acid oxidation.
Study details
The prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involved 71 participants, of whom 49 were overweight and 22 had class 1 obesity.
Those in the intervention group took 400 mg of a standardized natural extract of persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.f.) divided into two daily doses for 120 days.
The researchers designed the study to assess the supplement’s effects without the participants making any other changes to diet and activity. They stressed the importance of this to the participants, advising them to avoid flavonoid foods in particular and supplying a wrist device to monitor their physical activity.
Results showed an average weight loss of 2.2 kg in the study group compared to an increase of 1.1 kg in the placebo group. Anthropometric measurements, bioelectrical impedance analysis and DEXA scans revealed that fat mass decreased by 2.1 kg in the intervention group compared to an increase of 1.1 kg in the placebo group.
The study group showed an average circumference decrease of 2.4 cm in the waist, 2.2 cm in the abdomen and 1.7 cm in women’s hips, and trunk fat mass was reduced by 1.1 kg. The researchers observed no changes in lean muscle mass, “indicating that fat loss occurred without compromising muscle mass, which is important for maintaining healthy body composition.”
The study also noted increased fecal fat excretion in some participants, highlighting previous evidence of persimmon’s ability to modulate pancreatic lipase and improve fat metabolism.
Health-related quality of life scores were improved in the supplement group compared to placebo.
“Moreover, between-group significant differences for the total score and the mental health component score were found, indicating better psychological well-being and suggesting an improvement in mood and emotional stability,” the researchers wrote.
They called for further studies with larger sample sizes to validate their results and enhance the robustness of the findings.
Source: Foods, 2024,13, 4072. Doi: 10.3390/foods13244072 “Efficacy of a Dietary Supplement Extracted from Persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.f.) in Overweight Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Clinical Trial.” Authors: S. Pérez-Piñero et al.