Diacylglycerol Enhances the Effects of Alpha‐Linolenic Acid Against Visceral Fat: A Double‐Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of alpha‐linolenic acid‐rich diacylglycerol (ALA‐DAG) compared with alpha‐linolenic acid‐rich triacylglycerol (ALA‐TAG) on visceral fat area (VFA) in people with overweight.MethodsSubjects with overweight were recruited to a randomized, double‐blind, controlled, parallel‐group designed trial and randomly allocated to two groups that consumed either 2.5 g/d ALA‐TAG or ALA‐DAG for 12 weeks. Two 4‐week nontreatment periods were placed before and after the treatment period. One hundred fourteen subjects (n = 57 in the ALA‐TAG group, n = 57 in the ALA‐DAG group) were enrolled into the analysis set for efficacy evaluation.ResultsThe VFA and BMI were significantly decreased by the ALA‐DAG treatment with a treatment‐by‐time interaction compared with the ALA‐TAG treatment (P < 0.05). Additionally, the change from baseline of the fasting serum TAG concentration at week 12 was significantly decreased by ALA‐DAG treatment compared with ALA‐TAG treatment (P < 0.05). Safety parameters such as urinary measurements, hematologic parameters and blood biochemistry, and the incidence of adverse events did not differ significantly between groups, and no ALA‐DAG–associated adverse effects were detected.ConclusionsIncorporation of ALA‐DAG in a regular diet for 12 weeks may lead to a reduction in VFA, BMI, and serum TAG in men and women with overweight.

The review of alpha‐linolenic acid: Sources, metabolism, and pharmacology

“…A 12‐week trial showed that after 14 obese patients underwent ALA treatment (4.0 g/day), the expression of PPAR‐γ and G0/G1 switch gene 2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells increased, and the plasma FFA levels decreased (Zhao, Wang, & Guo, 2016). A 12‐week trial showed that ALA‐rich diacylglycerol (2.5 g/day) could reduce the visceral fat area, body mass index, and serum triacylglycerol content in 57 overweight subjects (Saito, Mori, Osaki, & Katsuragi, 2017). (d) Effects on metabolic syndrome subjects.…”

Blautia genus associated with visceral fat accumulation in adults 20–76 years of age

“…23–25 Clustering of metabolic risk factors, such as hypertension, high blood glucose and triglyceride concentrations, and low serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, is more strongly associated with VFA than high subcutaneous fat, WC, or BMI. 26–28 Reducing VFA could decrease the risk of metabolic syndrome-related disease. Thus, the association between the gut microbiota and VFA might be more important clinically than the association between the gut microbiota and BMI, especially with regard to metabolic syndrome-related disease.…”

Current Evidence to Propose Different Food Supplements for Weight Loss: A Comprehensive Review

“…Moreover, Li et al investigated the beneficial effects of DAG consumption on T2D patients, demonstrating an improvement not only in relation to body weight and waist circumference, but also regarding glucose metabolism and blood pressure compared with TAG [206]. Pointing in the same direction, the consumption of DAG together with alpha linoleic acid (ALA), a fatty acid undergoing easier beta oxidation as opposed to palmitic, stearic, oleic, or linoleic acid [207][208][209], resulted in excellent outcomes on body weight and visceral fat loss [203,210,211].…”