Weight Loss Strategies and Supplements for Weight Management

The pursuit of a leaner and more toned body has existed for as long as history, although ideals of body shape have changed over time. The process of weight loss has become a phenomenon that permeates many aspects of human activity, and is the subject of sociological, psychological, and above all, medical research. While once considered a matter of personal preference to be slim, thin, or overweight, in contemporary times, issues of overnutrition have become critical to the sustainability of public health systems. Obesity, with its consequences, is a significant public health and epidemiological problem that places a considerable burden on national health budgets. According to projections of rising obesity trends over the past twenty years, it is estimated that by 2030, the U.S. will spend between 48 and 66 billion dollars on treating the consequences of obesity. Compared to healthy individuals, people suffering from obesity have an increased risk of developing serious illnesses and potential causes of mortality, including: elevated blood pressure (hypertension), dyslipidemia (elevated LDL cholesterol and reduced HDL cholesterol, as well as elevated triglycerides), type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, and respiratory disorders. Some cancers, such as endometrial cancer, colon cancer, kidney cancer, and liver cancer, are more common in obese individuals. Additionally, quality of life is diminished, with an increased risk of mental health issues such as clinical depression and anxiety. Physical mobility is significantly reduced, leading to a vicious cycle where the inability to lose weight further exacerbates the health condition. Besides obesity on a pandemic scale, excessive body weight can also be an early risk factor for deteriorating health. It is a widespread issue often perceived from an aesthetic perspective, with individuals constantly searching for weight loss strategies that will yield desired results. Therefore, in the prevention of obesity and excessive body weight, it is imperative to act rationally—without compromising health—by adopting a strategy that guarantees sustainable success. The weight loss process is challenging, but with the correct strategy for sustainable weight reduction, it can become realistically achievable.

The goals for proper body mass reduction can be summarized in a few key objectives:

• Increase insulin sensitivity (reduce insulin resistance)
• Establish glucose homeostasis in the blood
• Enable stable and gradual increase in muscle mass
• Ensure the sustainability of the weight reduction plan
• Rationally regulate the balance of macronutrients

Dietary Supplements

Dietary supplements are frequently used in weight reduction (weight loss) strategies. Previously, weight loss supplements were based on empirical application, traditional experiences, and lacked adequate scientific support and evidence, with no insight into potential mechanisms of action. In modern times, a rational approach to weight loss involves using products with reliable and proven active ingredients, and formulations that utilize nutraceuticals with approved health claims. This review article presents some active ingredients that, based on available scientific evidence, may be beneficial for weight loss. Many principles regarding body weight control and increase are based on the premise that excessive carbohydrate intake results in metabolic conversion of carbohydrates to lipids. Therefore, dietary strategies and the use of supplements that regulate carbohydrate metabolism are potentially useful methods, provided that they are part of a comprehensive and balanced diet along with safe dietary supplements.

Garcinia cambogia

An interesting aspect of Garcinia is that it has recently “resurged” in dietary supplements. Just like chitosan, Garcinia Cambogia was a very common ingredient in weight loss supplements 10-15 years ago and has now started to be used again in product formulations. The native region of this plant species is Indonesia, and the rind of the fruit is used as a source of the biologically active compound HCA (hydroxycitric acid). For many years, it was believed that the active compounds in the fruit rind were tartaric and citric (lemon) acids. However, Lewis and Neelakantan isolated HCA as the primary organic acid using chemical and spectroscopic methods. In addition to HCA, some studies also mention the potential antioxidant activity of garcinol. The primary application is to support the reduction of excess body weight. HCA is an inhibitor of ATP citrate lyase, an enzyme that catalyzes the extramitochondrial reaction of splitting citrate into oxaloacetate and acetyl-CoA. Thus, inhibition of this enzyme and the biochemical reaction it catalyzes results in reduced availability of acetyl-CoA, which is necessary for fatty acid synthesis. citrat+ATP+CoA → acetil-CoA+ADP+Pi+oksaloacetat It is believed that the lipogenic effect (fat creation) is particularly pronounced when consuming a diet high in carbohydrates. In vivo animal studies have shown that HCA suppresses fatty acid synthesis, lipogenesis, food intake, and induces a reduction in body weight, with HCA potentially promoting glycogenesis, gluconeogenesis, and lipid oxidation, thereby contributing to the use of fewer carbohydrates for fatty acid synthesis. In a clinical study conducted in 2004, a patented extract of Garcinia cambogia was used, and the results showed an improvement in lean body mass and support for a healthy body composition. Another clinical, double-blind study, conducted over 12 weeks with 46 participants, found that supplementation with 500 mg of calcium salt of hydroxycitric acid and 25 mg of garcinol from Garcinia resulted in significantly reduced body fat content and total body mass, as well as better appetite regulation.

Enhancers of Biological Activity

Piperine

Thermogenesis is the process by which thermal energy is produced through metabolic processes in cells, inherent to every person as a result of adequate digestion, subsequent absorption, and metabolism of nutrients. This process is considered one of the key mechanisms underlying a successful weight loss strategy. The alkaloid piperine from black pepper stimulates the release of catecholamines, thermogenic hormones whose action is mediated by cAMP, thereby improving the thermogenic response. It also acts by increasing thyroid hormone activity. In an in vitro study, piperine demonstrated potential in regulating the activity of the PPAR-gamma gene, suggesting it could be beneficial in dietary supplements and functional products for weight loss. Type 2 diabetes is a condition of insulin resistance and is a common consequence of untreated obesity. In vivo studies have shown that combined use of piperine and curcumin extracts resulted in a significantly better therapeutic potential of curcumin for type 2 diabetes than when curcumin was used alone. The potential of piperine to enhance the efficacy of other biological substances appears to be well-researched.

CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid)

CLA is a natural food component derived from ruminants, resulting from bacterial digestive biohydrogenation processes. Several studies in animal models have shown CLA as an agent that could, with long-term use, have beneficial effects in reducing fat tissue accumulation, body weight, and increasing lean tissue, with no observed side effects. Although clinical studies have shown varying results, the specific effect of CLA in weight management is the reduction of fat tissue, primarily around the waist (abdominal area). For example, a six-month clinical study on adult participants found that CLA supplementation, compared to a placebo, resulted in a significant reduction in waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and an increase in lean body mass.

Herbal Extracts for Glucose Homeostasis Regulation

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum ceylanicum) has shown promise in various study models (in vitro, animal studies, and human trials) as an agent that improves insulin sensitivity, elevated blood glucose and lipid levels, inflammation, antioxidant capacity, and protein glycation. Therefore, it is of interest for inclusion in weight loss strategies, both through food and dietary supplements.. Gymnema Sylvestre (Gymnema sylvestre) is a plant species from Ayurvedic medicine, which has shown potential benefits in the therapy of obesity in preclinical study models. Gymnemic acid is the biologically active substance responsible for its favorable anti-diabetic effects, glucose homeostasis, and its impact on balancing insulin resistance parameters, as demonstrated in some clinical studies.

Conclusion

A weight loss strategy involves a rational approach, using a dietary model that emphasizes a diet rich in antioxidants, fibers, proteins, and essential fats, along with controlled carbohydrate intake. Dietary supplements used in this strategy should be verified for health safety, have potentially beneficial mechanisms of action, and not interfere with the absorption of essential nutrients. By doing so, the primary goals of weight loss can be achieved—sustainability of the entire process with an emphasis on reducing subcutaneous and visceral fat and increasing lean tissue. Literatura: Wang CY, McPherson K, Marsh T, Gortmaker S, Brown M. Health and economic burden of the projected obesity trends in the USA and the UK. Lancet. 2011; 378:815-25. Kaur G, Invally M, Chintamaneni M. Influence ofpiperineandquercetin on antidiabeticpotentialofcurcumin. J ComplementIntegr Med. 2016 Sep 1;13(3):247-255. Diwan V, Poudyal H, Brown L. Piperineattenuatescardiovascular, liverandmetabolicchangesinhighcarbohydrate, highfat-fedrats. CellBiochemBiophys. 2013;67(2):297-304. Lewis, Y. S.; Neelakantan, S. (-)-HydroxycitricacidsTheprincipalacidinthefruitsofGarciniacambogia. Phytochemistry1965, 4, 619-625. Badmaev, V.; Majeed, M. Open field, physiciancontrolled,clinicalevaluationofbotanicalweightloss formula Citrin.Presented at Nutracon; Nutraceuticals, DietarySupplementsandFunctional Foods, Las Vegas, NV, July 11-13, 1995.(157) Conte, A. A. A non-prescription alternative on weightreductiontherapy. Am. Barariatr. Med. Summer 1993, 17-19. Thom, E. Hydroxycitrate (HCA) inthetreatmentofobesity. Int.J. Obes. 1996, 20 (Suppl. 4), 48. Rothacker, D. Q.; Waitman, B. E. Effectivenessof a Garciniacambogiaandnaturalcaffeinecombinationinweightloss: Adouble-blindplacebo-controlled pilot study. Int. J. Obes. 1997,21 (Suppl. 2), 53. Girola, M.; De Bernardi, M.; Contos, S. Doseeffect on lipidloweringactivityof a dietaryintetrator, (chitosan, Garciniacambogiaextractandchrome). Acta Toxicol. Ther. 1996, 17,25-40. Ramos, R. R.; Saenz, F. J.; Alarcon, A. ExtractofGarciniacambogiainthecontrolofobesity (inSpanish). InVest. Med.Int. 1996, 22, 97-100. Park UH, Jeong HS, Jo EY, Park T, Yoon SK, Kim EJ, Jeong JC, Um SJ. Piperine, a componentofblackpepper, inhibitsadipogenesisbyantagonizingPPARγactivityin 3T3-L1 cells. J AgricFoodChem. 2012;60(15):3853-60. Mądry E, Chudzicka-Strugała I, Grabańska-Martyńska K, Malikowska K, Grebowiec P, Lisowska A, Bogdański P, Walkowiak J. Twelveweeks CLA supplementationdecreasesthe hip circumferenceinoverweightandobesewomen. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlledtrial. Acta Sci Pol TechnolAliment. 2016;15(1):107-113. Chen SC, Lin YH, Huang HP, Hsu WL, Houng JY, Huang CK. Effectofconjugatedlinoleicacidsupplementation on weightlossandbodyfatcompositionin a Chinesepopulation. Nutrition. 2012;28(5):559-65 Gaullier JM, Halse J, Høivik HO, Høye K, Syvertsen C, Nurminiemi M, Hassfeld C, Einerhand A, O’Shea M, Gudmundsen O. Sixmonthssupplementationwithconjugatedlinoleicacidinducesregional-specificfatmassdecreasesinoverweightandobese. Br J Nutr. 2007;97(3):550-60 Qin, B., Panickar, K.S., Anderson, R.A. Cinnamon: Potential Role inthePreventionofInsulinResistance, MetabolicSyndrome, andType 2 Diabetes. J DiabetesSciTechnol. 2010; 4(3): 685–693 Martinez-Abundis, E. etal. Novelnutraceutictherapies for thetreatmentofmetabolicsyndrome. World J Diabetes. 2016; 7(7): 142–152