Fitness Watch: Fruit extract shows promise as weight-loss aid

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Fruit extract shows promise as weight-loss aid

More likely, "Fruit extract shows lies as weight-loss aid."

"An extract derived from a West African fruit may help overweight people shed pounds and lower their cholesterol, a new study suggests.

The extract comes from Irvingia gabonensis, also known as African mango, a fruit commonly eaten in West Africa. Lab research has shown that extracts from the plant's seed may inhibit body fat production, through effects on certain genes and enzymes that regulate metabolism.

For the current study, researchers at the University of Yaounde in Cameroon randomly assigned 102 overweight adults to take either the plant extract or a placebo twice a day for 10 weeks. The study participants did not follow any special diet and were told to maintain their normal exercise levels.

By the end of the study, the extract group had lost a significant amount of weight -- an average of roughly 28 pounds -- while the placebo group showed almost no change."

Smells worse than rotten.

1. Who supplied the pills?

"The LNNB is grateful to Gateway Health Alliances Inc. (Fairfield, California, USA) for preparing and supplying the Irvingia gabonensis extract (IGOB131)."

2. Who paid for the study?

"Part of the funds for carrying out this study was provided by Gateway Health Alliances Inc., through their 'Encouragement of Research in developing countries Initiative'."

3. Who apparently sells this stuff, directly or indirectly, in the USA?

"All test materials were supplied by Gateway Health Alliances, Inc. (Fairfield, CA, USA) in individual packets of capsules."

4. Who likely oversaw this research? It is customary for the senior person, e.g., a Department Chief in an academic setting, to be listed last in a group of authors. Here are the authors: