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ut bacteria produce an
appetite suppressant than can strengthen the effect of an exercise-based weight
loss program.
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supplement may boost the fat-burning effects of exercise long after it has
finished.
The many health benefits of regular exercise are well known.
However, its impact on weight loss is less clear, as exercise increases appetite, potentially resulting
in an increased calorie intake.
A new study appearing in
the journal Metabolism presents
a possible solution.
The research comes from the
Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, the Universities of
Glasgow and the West of Scotland, and Imperial College in London, all of which
are in the United Kingdom.
It
suggests that adding a certain appetite-suppressing supplement to moderate
exercise increases the likelihood of weight loss, even without a change of
diet.
The Biotechnology and
Biological Sciences Research Council provided funding for this research.
A fascinating supplement
The study explored a
supplement called inulin-propionate ester (IPE).
Propionate is a short-chain fatty acid produced in
the digestion of dietary fiber by gut microbes. It is a natural and effective
appetite suppressor.
Propionate breaks down
quickly in the body, so to strengthen its effect, scientists have chemically
bound it to inulin. This is a fiber common to garlic, Jerusalem artichoke,
chicory, and onion. The result is
IPE.
As corresponding study
author Douglas Morrison notes, "There's a great deal of interest at the
moment in how our gut microbiota affects our health and well-being."
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The scientists' previous research established that the use of IPE as a
dietary supplement increased the rate at which the body oxidizes, or burns, fat
while at rest.
The research also found
that IPE suppresses the urge to consume high calorie foods. As an example,
those who the researchers offered all the pasta they could eat wound up eating
10% less than they usually would.
Their
new study has revealed that IPE can enhance the weight loss effects of a
moderate exercise program without requiring dietary changes.
As Morrison explains,
"What we've been able to show for the first time is that this latter
effect continues when exercise is added to regular IPE intake." The study
did not examine the effectiveness of a weight loss diet plus exercises plus IPE.
The trial consisted of 20
women aged 25–45. Each had a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25. The trial lasted for
4 weeks.
The team divided the
participants into two groups of 10. Both groups participated in moderate
exercise programs.
One group received a
supplement of IPE, and the other received a placebo supplement
comprising cellulose. All participants maintained their normal eating patterns
throughout the trial.
The researchers measured
each person's resting fat oxidation levels both before and after the trial
using blood and gas samples. They collected these before breakfast, after
breakfast, and after lunch.
The participants who
exercised while taking the placebo exhibited no change to their fat oxidation
levels after the trials.
The
group taking the IPE, however, showed a significant increase in the burning of
fat at rest, even 7 hours after their most recent dose of IPE.
Limitations of the study
The new study was small and
its duration brief, so its conclusions require additional verification.
Study co-author Dalia
Malkova says, "While these initial results are promising, we should stress that
there are limitations to this study, which was conducted with a small group
over just [4] weeks."
"For
example, we can't yet draw any conclusions about how the increased fat
oxidation, combined with exercise, might affect participants' body composition
and body mass."
The researchers are seeking
funding for further trials of IPE, involving more people and for a longer
period of time.
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