Lycium barbarum Reduces Abdominal Fat and Improves Lipid Profile and Antioxidant Status in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

Abstract

Natural antioxidants present in fruits have attracted considerable interest due to their presumed safety and potential nutritional value. Even though antioxidant activities of many fruits have been reported, the effects of phytochemicals of goji berry (GB) in patients with metabolic syndrome have not been investigated. In this study, we examined anthropometric and biochemical parameters in patients with metabolic syndrome after the consumption of GB. The patients were divided into two groups, control (C) and supplemented (S), and followed up for 45 days. Participants were individually instructed to carry out a healthy diet, but additionally, an inclusion of 14 g of the natural form of goji berry in the diet during 45 days for the S group was proposed. After 45 days of study, a significant reduction in transaminases as well as an improvement in lipid profile in the S group was observed. Likewise, a significant reduction in the waist circumference of the S group was observed when compared with that of the C group, and increased glutathione and catalase levels associated with a reduction of lipid peroxidation. These results suggest that this is an effective dietary supplement for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases in individuals with metabolic syndrome.

RETRACTED: Polysaccharide IV from Lycium barbarum L. Improves Lipid Profiles of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus of Pregnancy by Upregulating ABCA1 and Downregulating Sterol Regulatory Element-Binding Transcription 1 via miR-33

“…Lycium barbarum L . has been reported to have potential anti-inflammatory ( 45 ) and anticarcinogenic applications ( 46 ), and attenuate lipid peroxidation ( 47 ), and diverse health protecting benefits ( 48 ). Furthermore, LBLP IV can treat diabetic rats and it can be developed as a potential dietary therapeutic agent in the treatment of diabetes ( 30 ).…”

Wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) Consumption with a Healthy Dietary Pattern Lowers Oxidative Stress in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…In addition, a meta-analysis evaluating randomized controlled trials (RCTs) deduced significant improvements in several oxidative stress parameters including blood MDA and glutathione after adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension HDP, compared to the control [ 8 ]. On the contrary, while the intake of dietary antioxidants such as vitamin E and carotenoids display inverse associations with oxidative stress [ 9 , 10 ], inconsistent results were observed from clinical trials which intervened with antioxidant-rich foods or antioxidant supplementations [ 1 , 8 , 11 , 12 ]. This may be attributed to reasons such as functional concentration limits, poor bioavailability and the lack of antioxidant synergy in single antioxidant clinical trials [ 8 , 11 , 12 , 13 ].…”

A Whole Food Plant-Based Diet Is Effective for Weight Loss: The Evidence

“…Subjects on a weightloss diet randomized to 1 or 2 cups of low-sodium vegetable juice lost more weight than those given none, 36 for example, and when subjects in another study were randomized into 2 groups with 1 group given about 2 tablespoons of goji berries a day, those in the goji group lost 2.5 inches in waist circumference in 45 days, while the control group lost none. 37 Since the control group received no placebo, though, the placebo effect cannot be ruled out. However, some food items can be encapsulated, making doubleblind, placebo-controlled trials easy to employ: spices.…”