The effects of spinach-derived thylakoid supplementation in combination with calorie restriction on anthropometric parameters and metabolic profiles in obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Study answer

What this study found

Adding 5 g/day spinach-derived thylakoids to calorie restriction for 12 weeks was associated with greater improvements in weight-related outcomes and metabolic status than calorie restriction alone. In the thylakoid group, weight decreased from 89.21 to 82.23 kg (MD -6.97, 95% CI -7.21 to -6.73; P<0.001), BMI from 35.13 to 32.38 kg/m^2 (MD -2.74; P<0.001), waist circumference from 108.09 to 100.31 cm (MD -7.78; P<0.001), and fat mass from 32.40 to 27.21 kg (MD -5.19; P<0.001). The authors also concluded that insulin sensitivity improved and total testosterone decreased, with no adverse…

Study & population

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) recruited from clinics in Tabriz, Iran.

Intervention

Spinach-derived thylakoid-rich extract powder at 5 g/day, taken orally once daily as a sachet 30 minutes before lunch for 12 weeks, added to a calorie-restricted diet.

Key limitation

The trial was small, with 24 randomized and 21 completed in the active arm, and lasted only 12 weeks.

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Original abstract