A Single Dose of Goji Berries Does Not Affect Postprandial Energy Expenditure and Substrate Oxidation in Healthy, Overweight Men

Abstract

Background and Aim. Increasing energy expenditure is an effective strategy for the prevention of obesity. In this respect, Lycium barbarum (goji berry) is of interest, as it has been shown to increase postprandial oxygen consumption. Although this suggests that energy expenditure was also increased, energy expenditure and substrate oxidation can only be assessed accurately when both oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production are measured. We therefore investigated the effects of a single dose of Lycium barbarum fruit on postprandial energy expenditure and substrate oxidation in a randomized, double-blind crossover trial. In addition, markers of lipid and glucose metabolism were measured. Methods. Seventeen healthy, overweight men received in a random order a meal containing 25 grams of dried Lycium barbarum fruit or a control meal matched for caloric content and macronutrient composition. Energy expenditure and the respiratory quotient were determined using indirect calorimetry before and up to 4 hours after meal intake. Blood was sampled before and after meal intake at regular intervals for analyses of plasma glucose, serum triacylglycerol, and free fatty acid concentrations. Results. Energy expenditure significantly increased after the Lycium barbarum and control meal, but no differences were found between the meals (p=0.217). Postprandial changes in respiratory quotient (p=0.719) and concentrations of glucose (p=0.663), triacylglycerol (p=0.391), and free fatty acids (p=0.287) were also not affected by Lycium barbarum intake. Conclusions. A single dose of Lycium barbarum does not affect postprandial energy expenditure, substrate oxidation, and markers for lipid and glucose metabolism in healthy, overweight men.

Health Benefits and Applications of Goji Berries in Functional Food Products Development: A Review

“…However, a meta-analysis of the effects of L. barbarum supplementation on cardiometabolic risk factors, which included 548 subjects, indicated only a favourable effect on glucose control, and a marginal reduction in total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, without any benefit to body weight and blood pressure [ 97 ]. Moreover, a single dose of 25 g of dried L. barbarum fruits did not influence the postprandial energy expenditure, plasma glucose, serum-free fatty acids, and triglycerides concentrations in healthy, overweight men [ 93 ].…”

Supercharging metabolic health with Lycium barbarum L.: A review of the therapeutic potential of this functional food for managing metabolic syndrome

“…Lycium barbarum L. berry, known as wolfberry or goji berry, is a fruit widely used in Chinese medicine as a bioactive food due to its wide potential health benefits. Various components have been identified, such as carotenoids, fatty acids, fibers, flavonoids, glycerogalactolipids, organic acids, phenolic acids (chlorogenic, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acids, quercetin, and kaempferol), polysaccharides, sugars (fructose, glucose, and sucrose), terpenoids, minerals, and vitamins, which are responsible for the beneficial effects of this berry (Masciet al, 2018;Mocan et al, 2019;Spano et al, 2021;Tian et al, 2019;Zou et al, 2010).…”

“…In addition, L. barbarum polysaccharides are macromolecular watersoluble glycoconjugates extracted from goji berry with antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, antiaging, neuroprotective, immunomodulatory, and cytoprotective properties (Tian et al, 2019;Zhao, Jing et al, 2023). A ciabatta bread enriched with goji fresh flesh puree showed the ability to protect against lipid peroxidation and inhibitory activities against key enzymes of MetS (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) (Sicari et al, 2023).…”

Spirulina, wakame or goji berries do not lower markers of low-grade systemic inflammation in healthy subjects

“…It was found that the consumption of the algae spirulina (Arthrospira platensis or maxima) or wakame (Undaria pinnatifida) by non-hypercholesterolemic men and women for 17 days did not affect serum lipid or plasma glucose concentrations, and blood pressure [7]. In another study, we examined the acute effects of a single dose of goji berries (Lycium barbarum fruit) on postprandial triacylglycerol and glucose concentrations in healthy, but overweight men [8]. Again, no effects of the intervention on these parameters could be demonstrated.…”

“…Sample size calculations were based on the primary outcome parameters, cholesterol-standardized serum campestral concentrations, and energy expenditure for the algae study and goji study respectively[7][8] …”