Body weight loss, reduced urge for palatable food and increased release of GLP-1 through daily supplementation with green-plant membranes for three months in overweight women

Abstract

The frequency of obesity has risen dramatically in recent years but only few effective and safe drugs are available. We investigated if green-plant membranes, previously shown to reduce subjective hunger and promote satiety signals, could affect body weight when given long-term. 38 women (40-65 years of age, body mass index 25-33 kg/m(2)) were randomized to dietary supplementation with either green-plant membranes (5 g) or placebo, consumed once daily before breakfast for 12 weeks. All individuals were instructed to follow a three-meal paradigm without any snacking between the meals and to increase their physical activity. Body weight change was analysed every third week as was blood glucose and various lipid parameters. On days 1 and 90, following intake of a standardized breakfast, glucose, insulin and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) in plasma were measured, as well as subjective ratings of hunger, satiety and urge for different palatable foods, using visual analogue scales. Subjects receiving green-plant membranes lost significantly more body weight than did those on placebo (p < 0.01). Mean weight loss with green-plant extract was 5.0 ± 2.3 kg compared to 3.5 ± 2.3 kg in the control group. Consumption of green-plant membranes also reduced total and LDL-cholesterol (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05 respectively) compared to control. Single-meal tests performed on day 1 and day 90 demonstrated an increased postprandial release of GLP-1 and decreased urge for sweet and chocolate on both occasions in individuals supplemented with green-plant membranes compared to control. Waist circumference, body fat and leptin decreased in both groups over the course of the study, however there were no differences between the groups. In conclusion, addition of green-plant membranes as a dietary supplement once daily induces weight loss, improves obesity-related risk-factors, and reduces the urge for palatable food. The mechanism may reside in the observed increased release of GLP-1.

The Metabolic Plant Feedback Hypothesis: How Plant Secondary Metabolites Nonspecifically Impact Human Health

“…It is already known that chloroplast thylakoids reduce glucose uptake and suppress blood glucose levels [110,111]. Moreover, daily supplementation with green plant membranes for three months significantly reduced weight in overweight women via GLP-1 [112]. These findings are in agreement with plants containing general principles that lead to the secretion of GLP-1 [113,114].…”

Consumption of thylakoid-rich spinach extract reduces hunger, increases satiety and reduces cravings for palatable food in overweight women

“…In addition, ratings for satiety in the treated group were also higher several hours after lunch, compared to placebo. Both the acute and late effects of thylakoids to enhance satiety may be explained by increased secretion of satiety hormones CCK and GLP-1 (Köhnke, Lindbo et al, 2009;Montelius et al, 2014;Stenblom et al, 2013).…”

“…We found that these effects are connected to an altered secretion of appetite regulating hormones, including ghrelin, cholecystokinin (CCK) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), in rodents, pigs and humans (Köhnke, Lindbo et al, 2009;Montelius, Osman et al, 2013;Montelius, Szwiec et al, 2013;Montelius et al, 2014). Based on these findings of suppressed hedonic hunger and increased levels of GLP-1, we were interested to deepen our knowledge of these effects on overweight middle-aged women in a similar group of participants but in a non-laboratory setting.…”

Gut fat signaling and appetite control with special emphasis on the effect of thylakoids from spinach on eating behavior

“…15 At study visits on days 1 and 90, participants consumed the thylakoids or a placebo prior to a standardized breakfast meal followed by ad libitum lunch and dinner meals six and eleven hours later, respectively. Blood was drawn before breakfast and over a six hour period following breakfast for assessments of glucose, insulin, ghrelin, and GLP-1.…”