Effect of alginate supplementation on weight loss in obese subjects completing a 12-wk energy-restricted diet: a randomized controlled trial.
What this study found
Overall, alginate did not differ from control in the intention-to-treat analysis. Among completers, alginate plus energy restriction was associated with greater weight loss and a larger reduction in body fat percentage; between-group P values were 0.031 for weight and 0.031 for body fat percentage, with fat mass showing a trend (P=0.059). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure also favored alginate (P=0.035 and P=0.020, respectively), although the sodium content of the formulation may have influenced these findings. Tolerability was worse early on, with more mild-to-moderate adverse events in…
- Study & population
- Double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial in obese adults in Denmark completing a 12-week energy-restricted diet program.
- Intervention
- Participants in the alginate arm received an oral alginate preload beverage 3 times daily before breakfast, lunch, and dinner for 12 weeks.
- Key limitation
- The main intention-to-treat analysis showed no advantage over control, so the apparent benefit was limited to completers.
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Open PDFOriginal abstract
BACKGROUND Acute studies with alginate-based preloads suggested that these strong gelling fibers may induce increased feelings of satiety and reduce energy intakes. However, the long-term efficacy and safety of alginate supplementation on body weight regulation are lacking. OBJECTIVE The primary aim of the study was to investigate the effects in subjects of alginate supplementation in conjunction with energy restriction (-300 kcal/d) on loss of body weight and fat and, second, on metabolic risk markers in comparison with in a placebo group. DESIGN In a parallel, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we randomly assigned 96 obese subjects to either an energy-restricted diet plus a placebo preload supplement or an energy-restricted diet plus an alginate-based preload supplement (15 g fiber). The preload was administered as a beverage 3 times/d before main meals for a period of 12 wk. RESULTS No differences in loss of body weight and fat between groups were shown in the intension-to-treat (ITT) analysis (P > 0.1). However, in the completer analysis (n = 80), we showed a greater weight loss with alginate (6.78 ± 3.67 kg) than with the placebo (5.04 ± 3.40 kg) (P = 0.03), which was mainly attributed to a reduction in the percentage of body fat (P = 0.03). In the ITT analysis, a larger decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure was shown in the placebo group than in the alginate group (P < 0.05). Plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, C-reactive protein, and ghrelin, HOMA-IR, and lipid metabolism did not differ between treatment groups in the ITT analysis (P > 0.1). CONCLUSION These results suggest that alginate supplementation as an adjunct to energy restriction may improve weight loss in obese subjects who complete a 12-wk dietary intervention.