How an herbal supplement may speed weight loss

DAVIS, CA - A veteran UC Davis nutritionist who admits to being skeptical about weight loss claims from the makers of dietary supplements is convinced at least one of those supplements actually works.

"People either got the placebo or the active ingredient and (those who took the active ingrediant) lost weight," said Professor Judith Stern, who evaluated clinical research involving 95 overweight and obese people in India.

The active ingredient is a mixture of an herb called sphaeranthus indicus and a fruit called garcinia mangostana.

The test group was given a 400 mg capsule of the supplement twice a day for eight weeks and the control group was given a placebo. Both groups were limited to 2,000 calories per day and each exercised for a half hour five days a week.

On average, the test group lost 11 lbs 7 oz over the course of the study, while the control group lost just 3 lbs 5 oz.

The test group also lost, on average, 4.75 inches around the waist compared to 2.5 inches for the control group.

"The bad fat is in the waist," Stern said.

The research was funded by InterHealth Nutraceuticals of Benicia, which markets the mixture under the brand name Meratrim.

The company also sells the mixture to resellers, who relabel the product as NV Clinical, Life Extension's Anti-Adipocyte Formula and Advanced Anti-Adipocyte Formula and Zycor.

Stern said she did not receive any compensation from the company for her analysis of the Indian research.

By George Warren, GWarren@news10.net

News10/KXTV