NCT03785821

Effect of Bitter Melon Seed Oil on Body Weight

Development and Clinical Application of Bitter Melon Seed Oil as a Functional Food for Treating Obesity and Hepatic Steatosis

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 56 (actual)
• Sponsor: China Medical University Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 20 Years – 64 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

To investigate the metabolic benefits of bitter melon seed oil (BMSO), overweight or obese healthy Taiwanese adults (n=60) were randomly assigned to receive capsules containing either olive oil (OO; placebo) or BMSO at 4.5 g/d dose for 12 week. Across intervention period, body weight, BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, and body fat mass were measured. Blood were collected before and after intervention for measurements of blood lipid and inflammatory cytokines. The anti-obesity effect of BMSO was further assessed by stratification of participants according to UCP1 rs1800592 polymorphism.

Detailed description

Bitter melon is a common Asian vegetable. Its seed is not edible and discarded as a waste product. However, the seed oil is enriched in cis9, trans11, trans13-conjugated linolenic acid or alpha-eleostearic acid (alpha-ESA). Investigators previously demonstrated the anti-obesity functions of bitter melon seed oil (BMSO) in animal trials. Herein, a RCT was conducted to test the potential of BMSO in developing as a functional culinary oil for weight control. Considering UCP-1 played a pivotal role in anti-adiposity function of BMSO as demonstrated in animal studies, the anti-obesity effect of BMSO was further assessed according to UCP1 rs1800592 polymorphism. Healthy Taiwanese adults with overweight or obesity were recruited by advertisement and were assessed by a family medicine physician for eligibility. All participants signed the consent form. Blocked randomization was used to randomly assign participants into one of two groups to receive indicated supplement (BMSO or OO capsules with identical appearance; 4.5 g oil/d) for 12 week. Subjects were requested to maintain their usual diet and physical activity during the study period (0-12 week). Anthropometric measurements were done on week 0, 4, 8 and 12. Three-day food records, collection of blood samples and physical health check were conducted on week 0, 4 and 12. Indirect calorimetry was done on week 0 and 12. Questionnaires about self-reported side effects, such as trouble sleeping, constipation, diarrhea, increased heartbeat, palpitations, headache, anxiety, or dizziness, were collected in each visit. Group allocation was concealed.

Conditions

• Weight Gain

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT	BMSO	BMSO was extracted from Hualien No. 4 cultivate of bitter melon seed. BMSO were incorporated into capsules containing 0.5 g of oil. All persons took 3 capsules after each meal, i.e. 9 capsules (4.5 g of oil) daily, resulting in daily consumption of 2.3 g alpha-ESA in the BMSO group.
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT	OO	Olive oil (extra virgin grade) was purchased from La Espanola (Acesur, Spain). OO were incorporated into capsules containing 0.5 g of oil, identical appearance to BMSO. All persons took 3 capsules after each meal, i.e. 9 capsules (4.5 g of oil) daily.

Timeline

• Start date: 2016-04-01
• Primary completion: 2017-04-01
• Completion: 2017-04-01
• First posted: 2018-12-24
• Last updated: 2018-12-24