BMI was reduced by 7% over the course of the trial for obese people taking 500 mg of the Cyperus rotundus extract plus 5 mg of piperine (CREP) twice a day, according to data published in Medicine.
“Weight loss of 5% or more is considered clinically meaningful for improving metabolic health, and in this study, 43 of 48 participants (89.5%) in the CREP group achieved this threshold, compared to only 6 of 48 participants (12.5%) in the placebo group,” wrote researchers, led by Dr. Anju Majeed, group executive chairperson of Sami-Sabinsa Group. “This highlights the significant impact of CREP on body weight reduction.”
The study was supported by the Sami-Sabinsa Group Limited.
Nut grass
Cyperus rotundus L. is a perennial herb from the Cyperaceae family that contains a range of bioactives, including stilbenes, flavonoids, quinones, saponins, alkaloids and phenolic acids. Sabinsa’s Cirpusins branded ingredient is standardized to contain 6% to 8% stilbenes (scirpusin A, scirpusin B, and piceatannol)
Cirpusins was launched in 2020, but extracts of Cyperus rotundus have Old Dietary Ingredient (ODI) status in the United States, Shaheen Majeed, global CEO and managing director of Sabinsa, told NutraIngredients.
The ingredient is the most recent addition to Sabinsa’s well-established portfolio in the weight management category, which includes ForsLean (Coleus forskolii), Citrin (Garcinia cambogia), GarCitrin (Garcinia cambogia standardized for garcinol and HCA), LeanGard (a proprietary blend of GarCitrin, ForsLean and BioPerine) and Fabenol (Phaseolus vulgaris).
“For over 30 years, Sabinsa has been a pioneering leader in weight management research, beginning with our early studies on Citrin,” Shaheen Majeed said. “We confirmed early on that the traditional botanicals used in Ayurveda through the ages also provided benefits in related areas of concern for overweight individuals, such as lipid management. This published research adds to the body of science Sabinsa has been proud to produce over the decades.”
Study details
The new randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study included 96 obese people who were randomly assigned to receive either the Cyperus rotundus extract plus piperine formulation twice a day or placebo for 90 days, along with a recommended physical activity and diet regimen.
Results showed that CREP supplementation significantly reduced body weight by 7.1% after 90 days, compared to 2.6% in the placebo group. BMI decreased by 6.9%, with a 2.7% decrease recorded in the placebo group. Similar reductions were observed for waist and hip circumference, compared to placebo.
Biochemical markers also changed in the CREP group, wrote Dr. Anju Majeed and her co-workers, with improvements in serum lipid profiles and Apolipoprotein B-100 levels recorded.
“No adverse events were reported, and all laboratory parameters remained within normal ranges,” they added.
“The findings demonstrate that CREP is a safe and effective natural supplement for reducing abdominal obesity and improving lipid profiles. The observed benefits surpassed those of lifestyle management alone, supporting the potential development of CREP as a natural therapeutic option for weight management in obese individuals.”
Source: Medicine, 104(47):p e45666, doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000045666. “Efficacy and safety of Cyperus rotundus extract on weight management in obese individuals: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study”. Authors: A. Majeed, et al.
