The Effects of a Cinchona Supplementation on Satiety, Weight Loss and Body Composition in a Population of Overweight/Obese Adults: A Controlled Randomized Study

Abstract

Obesity is a risk factor for several diseases present worldwide. Currently, dietary changes and physical activity are considered the most effective treatment to reduce obesity and its associated comorbidities. To promote weight loss, hypocaloric diets can be supported by nutraceuticals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a hypocaloric diet associated with Cinchona succirubra supplementation on satiety, body weight and body composition in obese subjects. Fifty-nine overweight/obese adults, were recruited, randomized into two groups and treated for 2 months. The first group (32 adults) was treated with a hypocaloric diet plus cinchona supplementation (the T-group); the second one (27 adults) was treated with a hypocaloric diet plus a placebo supplementation (the P-group). Anthropometric-measurements as well as bioimpedance analysis, a Zung test and biochemical parameters were evaluated at baseline and after 60 days. T-group adults showed significant improvement in nutritional status and body composition compared to those at the baseline and in the P-group. Moreover, T-group adults did not show a reduction in Cholecystokinin serum levels compared to those of P-group adults. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that a hypocaloric diet associated with cinchona supplementation is effective in inducing more significant weight loss and the re-establishment of metabolic parameters than those obtained with a hypocaloric diet.

Gengricin®: A Nutraceutical Formulation for Appetite Control and Therapeutic Weight Management in Adults Who Are Overweight/Obese

“…In addition, a direct correlation between the degree of suppression of energy intake in response to quinine and the sensitivity of the subjects to the bitter taste of phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) was found [ 40 ]. More specifically, alkaloids from Cinchona bark were previously demonstrated to be a viable alternative in clinical practice for obesity treatment and its related dysmetabolic diseases [ 19 , 41 , 42 ]. In this regard, a very recent study has focused on the interaction between the quinoline alkaloids present in Cinchona bark and the bitter taste receptors TAS2Rs at the duodenal level [ 19 ].…”

“…More specifically, alkaloids from Cinchona bark were previously demonstrated to be a viable alternative in clinical practice for obesity treatment and its related dysmetabolic diseases [ 19 , 41 , 42 ]. In this regard, a very recent study has focused on the interaction between the quinoline alkaloids present in Cinchona bark and the bitter taste receptors TAS2Rs at the duodenal level [ 19 ]. In the aforementioned study, adults who were overweight/obese were treated for 60 days with a hypocaloric diet and either a nutraceutical supplementation based on Cinchona bark (treatment group) or a Placebo.…”

“…This reduction in the Placebo group was associated with increased hunger typically observed in adults on hypocaloric diets. However, the treatment group did not experience a statistically significant reduction in CCK levels, suggesting that the nutraceutical supplementation was effective in stimulating intestinal EECs to release CCK, thereby maintaining satiety levels [ 19 ]. Noteworthily, results obtained from animal-based studies further supported the anti-obesity potential of Cinchona , as its supplementation showed significant effects in suppressing adipogenesis through the downregulation of WNT signaling pathways and galanin-mediated adipogenesis (orexigenic neuropeptide), concurrently with a reduction in inflammation through the repression of toll-like-receptor-2- (TLR2-) and TLR4-mediated signaling pathways in adipose tissue [ 41 ].…”

“…The participants were treated with a hypocaloric diet supplemented with one of three different treatments, administered as gastro-resistant capsules twice daily, one hour before main meals. The hypocaloric diet plan included a 40% caloric restriction of the total energy requirement [ 19 , 47 ] and the administration of a dietary supplement or Placebo. Resting energy expenditure was calculated using the Fredrix equation, adjusted for total energy expenditure.…”

“…The results showed a significant reduction in the body weight (from 96.9 ± 1.6 kg to 90.4 ± 1.7 kg, p < 0.0001) and percentage of fat mass (from 34.6 ± 1.7% to 31.1 ± 2.1%, p < 0.0001, in the treatment group, compared to Placebo group). In addition, these subjects maintained higher serum CCK levels, which were associated with increased satiety over the 60-day treatment period, compared to the Placebo group [ 19 ]. Overall, these results indicated that Cinchona supplementation, in concomitance with a hypocaloric diet, effectively supported weight management and appetite control by influencing CCK levels.…”