New Study Shows Lychee Extract May Trim Belly Fat

There is big news for those that can not seem to shed that spare tire around the middle. A new Japanese study suggests that an extract from lychees might reduce abdominal fat in those with metabolic syndrome and cause overall health improvements.

Results from this New Study

The researchers recruited 18 adult volunteers that had a waist circumference exceeding 85 cm. The subjects were between 24 and 59 years of age. Volunteers were randomly divided into two groups. One of the groups received a daily Oligonol dose of 50 milligrams. The other group received a placebo.

After 10 weeks of study:

• Those in the Oligonol group lost about three centimetres in their waist size.
• This same group experienced a 6 percent reduction in subcutaneous fat area.
• Oligonol group participants also reported a 15 percent reduction in abdominal (visceral) fat.
• Insulin resistance improved in the Oligonol group with increases in blood levels of adiponectin, a hormone that regulates a variety of metabolic processes, compared to the placebo group.

“In this study, we demonstrated the effect of Oligonol on metabolic syndrome using clinical parameters characterized by abdominal visceral fat area and insulin resistance,” wrote the researchers. “We revealed that Oligonol reduced BMI and subcutaneous and visceral fat volumes, and improved insulin resistance,” according to the researchers from Hokkaido Information University, Sapporo Bio-S, and Amino Up Chemical Company in Japan in the Journal of Functional Foods.

The researchers noted that the reduction in visceral fat areas that was observed was remarkable. As a result the researchers believe that the Oligonol would be very beneficial in preventing and improving the metabolic syndrome, particularly in pre-diabetic hyperinsulinemia.

“In particular, remarkable reduction of visceral fat areas was observed,” they noted. “These findings strongly indicate that Oligonol would be a beneficial supplement for prevention and improvement of metabolic syndrome, especially in the stage of hyperinsulinemia often seen during pre-diabetic conditions,” added the researchers.

MetS, also known as Metabolic Syndrome, is a condition distinguished by central obesity, hypertension, and disturbed glucose and insulin metabolism. MetS has been linked to increased risks of both type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

The researchers concluded that the enhanced presence of oligomerized proanthocyanidins in Oligonol evidently provide a wide range of benefits in food products, pharmaceutical preparations, and dietary supplements alike.

US Availability
 
The Maypro Group in the US has made the ingredient available. In 2007 the New Dietary Ingredient (NDI) status for the proprietary lychee extract was secured. Maypro states that the ingredient is unique because it uses a patented technology that boosts polyphenol bioavailability and therefore enhances anti-oxidant performance.

Maypro says the high molecular weight of many polyphenols frustrates their absorption by the body. The company's affiliate supplier in Japan, Amino Up Chemical, has developed a production process that shortens polyphenol polymers into monomers and oligomers for increased bioavailability. This is very encouraging for those that have battled the tummy bulge without success!