Weight loss and delayed gastric emptying

Expert Study Obesity and generally being overweight could soon be affecting over 50% of the population in certain areas of the world. These conditions are closely associated with hypertension, diabetes and a number of other diseases that could provide fatal and costly to treat in many cases.

There are a number of herbal formulations used in non-western cultures to help regulate food intake, energy levels and physiological processes.

One of which is known as 'YGD' - including yerba mate, leaves of the Ilex para-guayensis, Damiana (leaves from the Turnera diffusa var. aphrodisiaca) and Guarana (seeds of the Paullinia cupana).

Aims of the Study

This study had two specific aims: to help show the effect that this herbal formulation 'YGD' has on gastric emptying. And to show the effect it has on weight loss over a period of both 10 days and 45 days, and how it can maintain weight over the period of a year.

Methods Gastric emptying was measured using an ultrasound scanner on seven volunteers, who were either taking YGD or a placebo with 420ml apple juice. The body weight of 44 healthy overweight patients was measured before and after the 10 treatment days, with three capsules of YGD or the placebo taken before every meal on each of these days.

Forty seven healthy overweight patients took part in a double-blind placebo trial of YGD before main meals for 45 days. Body weight was also measured in 22 patients who continued the treatment over a period of 12 months. Results The herbal supplement of YGD was followed by a gastric emptying time of 15 minutes compared with 7.6 minutes in those who took the placebo.

The weight reductions were 0.05 kg in those who had the YGD capsules, and 0.03 kg with those who took the placebo over a period of 10 days. When taken over a period of 45 days, weight reduction was 0.5 kg with the YGD capsule, and 0.08 kg with the placebo.

Weight maintenance was shown in the treatment with YGD capsules over the 12 month period.

Conclusion

The YGD capsules significantly delayed the time of gastric emptying, reduced how long it took to feel full, and led to significant weight loss results over a period of 45 days in the overweight patients treated.

The maintenance treatment did not lead to further weight loss, or any gain in weight in the group. This shows that the herbal YGD capsule can significantly alter the gastric emptying time, though there should be further study into the active principles of the three different herbal extracts.

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