Nutrients Improve Health In Obesity

Article by Don Goldberg

Prebiotics

In an earlier study by these doctors, the prebiotic oligofructose reduced the desire for food, increased satiety, and promoted safe weight loss in obese participants. 

In this follow-up study, 37 obese people from the earlier trial took a placebo or 7 grams of oligofructose three times per day. After 12 weeks, levels of an inflammatory bacterial toxin linked to gut imbalance and obesity were 40 percent lower in the oligofructose group while increasing 48 percent for placebo. Doctors also saw levels of a blood clotting factor decrease nearly twice as much in the oligofructose group compared to placebo.

Doctors believe this is the first study to show that prebiotics may enhance circulation, and may help rebalance the gut microbiome to reduce chances for obesity and its complications.

(Reference: Obesity Research Journal; 2017, Vol. 25, No. 3, 510-13)

Omega-3s

Chronic low-grade inflammation usually accompanies obesity, increasing chances for health complications. In this study, 59 women with obesity were on a calorie-controlled diet while taking a placebo or 1,800 mg of EPA with DHA per day.

After three months, while the placebo group had not changed, women in the omega-3 group had significantly higher circulating levels of EPA and DHA, far fewer signs of low-grade inflammation, and lower fasting levels of triglycerides and insulin.

Omega-3 fatty acids appear to combat chronic low-grade inflammation by combining with cellular enzymes to reduce pro-inflammatory proteins. Doctors said the findings suggest a role for EPA and DHA in managing obesity, maintaining a healthy metabolism, and reducing chances of health conditions related to inflammation.

(Reference: Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids; 2016, Vol. 1861, No. 11, 1746-55)