Nutraceuticals Research

Nutraceutical: Slim339 (proprietary combination of Garcinia cambogia and other plant extracts)

Indication: Overweight and obesity

Source: Phytother Res, December 2007;21(12):1177-81.

Research: Investigators initiated a double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study in order to evaluate the effect of orally self-administered Slim339, which is a proprietary fixed combination of Garcinia cambogia extract with calcium pantothenate (standardized for the content of hydroxycitric acid and pantothenic acid) and extracts of Matricaria chamomilla, Rosa damascena, Lavandula officinalis and Cananga odorata, on body weight in overweight and obese volunteers.

Results: During the 60-day treatment period, the average reduction in body weight for the group receiving Slim339 (n = 30) was nearly 5% compared with less than 1% for the placebo group (n = 28). Weight losses of >/=3 kg were recorded for 23 subjects in the treatment group and only one in the placebo group. As a result of these findings, researchers believe Slim339 represents a potential therapy for obesity.

Nutraceutical: Vitamin D

Indication: Cancer risk

Source: J Natl Cancer Inst, November 7, 2007;99(21):1594-602. Epub October 30, 2007.

Research: Vitamin D has been hypothesized to reduce cancer mortality through its effects on incidence and/or survival. Epidemiologic studies of the association of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and the risk of cancer, however, have been largely limited to incident cancers at a few sites. For this study, a total of 16,818 participants in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey who were 17 years or older at enrollment were followed from 1988-1994 through 2000. Levels of serum 25(OH)D were measured at baseline by radioimmunoassay. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to examine the relationship between serum 25(OH)D levels and total cancer mortality (in the entire population or according to race/ethnicity, sex, age, and retinol status) and mortality from specific cancers. Be-cause serum was collected in the south in cooler months and the north in warmer months, researchers examined associations by collection season. All statistical tests were two-sided.

Results: Researchers identified 536 cancer deaths in 146,578 person-years. Total cancer mortality was unrelated to baseline vitamin D status in the entire population, men, women, non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks, Mexican Americans, and in persons younger than 70 or 70 years or older. Researchers also found no interaction between vitamin D and season or vitamin D and serum retinol. Colorectal cancer mortality, however, was inversely related to se-rum 25(OH)D level, with levels 80nmol/L or higher associated with a 72% risk reduction. According to these findings, there is no association between 25(OH)D and total cancer mortality, although there was an inverse relationship between 25(OH)D levels and colorectal cancer mortality.

Nutraceutical: Whole grains

Indication: Heart failure

Source: Arch Intern Med, October 22, 2007;167(19):2080-5.

Research: Heart failure (HF) is the leading cause of hospitalization among the elderly population in the U.S. Consumption of grain products and dietary fiber has been shown to reduce the risk of hypertension and myocardial infarction. However, it is not known whether a higher consumption of breakfast cereals is associated with risk of HF. Researchers evaluated prospectively the association between breakfast cereal intake and incident HF among 21,376 participants of the Physicians’ Health Study I. Cereal consumption was estimated using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Incident HF was ascertained through annual follow-up questionnaires and validated using Framingham criteria.

Results: During an average follow-up of nearly 20 years, 1018 incident cases of HF occurred. Most cases occurred in men who ate no whole grain cereals. Those who ate at least one bowl of cereal a day had the lowest incidence of heart failure. The data led investigators to conclude that a higher intake of whole grain breakfast cereals is associated with a lower risk of HF. However, they said additional studies are warranted to confirm these findings and determine specific nutrients that are responsible for such a protection.

Click here to download this month's "Bottom Line" monograph on Garcinia cambogia provided by Natural Standard.