Body Composition and Hormonal Adaptations Associated with Forskolin Consumption in Overweight and Obese Men

Abstract

GODARD, MICHAEL P., BRAD A. JOHNSON, AND SCOTT R. RICHMOND. Body composition and hormonal adaptations associated with forskolin consumption in overweight and obese men. Obes Res. 2005;13:1335-1343. Objective: This study examined the effect of forskolin on body composition, testosterone, metabolic rate, and blood pressure in overweight and obese (BMI Ն 26 kg/m 2 ) men. Research Methods and Procedure: Thirty subjects (forskolin, n ϭ 15; placebo, n ϭ 15) were studied in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study for 12 weeks. Results: Forskolin was shown to elicit favorable changes in body composition by significantly decreasing body fat percentage (BF%) and fat mass (FM) as determined by DXA compared with the placebo group (p Յ 0.05). Additionally, forskolin administration resulted in a change in bone mass for the 12-week trial compared with the placebo group (p Յ 0.05). There was a trend toward a significant increase for lean body mass in the forskolin group compared with the placebo group (p ϭ 0.097). Serum free testosterone levels were significantly increased in the forskolin group compared with the placebo group (p Յ 0.05). The actual change in serum total testosterone concentration was not significantly different among groups, but it increased 16.77 Ϯ 33.77% in the forskolin group compared with a decrease of 1.08 Ϯ 18.35% in the placebo group. Discussion: Oral ingestion of forskolin (250 mg of 10% forskolin extract twice a day) for a 12-week period was shown to favorably alter body composition while concurrently increasing bone mass and serum free testosterone levels in overweight and obese men. The results indicate that forskolin is a possible therapeutic agent for the management and treatment of obesity.

Directed Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells into Leydig-Like Cells Rescue Testosterone-Deficient Male Rats In Vivo

“…It has been previously reported that FSK dramatically increased SF-1 protein and mRNA levels by repressing DAX-1 protein and mRNA expression [39]. The clinical study also observed the role of FSK in significantly increasing lean muscle mass, bone mass, and testosterone in overweight and obese men [40].…”

International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. CI. Structures and Small Molecule Modulators of Mammalian Adenylyl Cyclases

“…Lastly, Coleus forskohlii extracts with varying and undefined FSK content are widely and uncritically used as dietary supplement for weight reduction (Rios-Hoyo and GutierrezSalmean, 2016). The available clinical evidence (Godard et al, 2005) is insufficient to recommend the use of FSK for treatment of obesity.…”

Preclinical and clinical effects of Coleus forskohlii, Salacia reticulata and Sesamum indicum modifying pancreatic lipase inhibition in vitro and reducing total body fat

“…This plant, which comes from the mountains of Asia, has been used for centuries in tradition of India cuisine (pickles) and more recently in formulation of Ayurveda medicines (Badmaev, Majeed, Conte, & Parker, 2002;Godard, Johnson, & Richmond, 2005). Coleus forskohlii supports fat loss through a cascade of chemical reactions -especially its ability to facilitate the action of hormones via hormonal second messenger cyclic AMP and also preventing triacylglycerol lipase mechanism.…”