Abstract
BackgroundLicorice flavonoid oil (LFO) has been reported to minimize visceral adipose tissue gain in obese mice and to result in a decrease in body weight and body fat in humans; the effects of which may be more pronounced when administered in an overfed state.MethodsWe investigated the effects of LFO in two separate studies. Study 1 included a sample of overweight or grade I-II obese men and women (N = 22) who followed their usual dietary and physical activity programs. Study 2 included a sample of athletic men who followed their usual dietary and physical activity programs but consumed a daily supplemental meal (25% above daily energy requirements) in an attempt to induce a state of overfeeding. In both studies, subjects were randomly assigned (double-blind) to either LFO or a placebo for eight weeks, and anthropometric and multiple biochemical outcomes (e.g., markers of oxidative stress, markers of insulin sensitivity, blood lipids, etc.) were obtained before and following the intervention.ResultsNo differences of statistical significance were noted between LFO and placebo for any measured variable in Study 1 or Study 2. When investigating the percent change from baseline for data in Study 2, although not of statistical significance, subjects in the LFO condition experienced less overall fat gain, as well as attenuation in the elevation in selected blood lipids (e.g., cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglycerides).ConclusionThese combined data indicate little effect of LFO supplementation within a sample of overweight/obese men and women or athletic men, with the possible exception of attenuation in body fat gain and selected components of the blood lipid panel in response to an overfeeding condition.
Highlights
Licorice flavonoid oil (LFO) has been reported to minimize visceral adipose tissue gain in obese mice and to result in a decrease in body weight and body fat in humans; the effects of which may be more pronounced when administered in an overfed state
For Study 2, a condition effect was noted for age (p = 0.04), dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) total body fat (p = 0.03), DEXA trunk body fat (p = 0.05), and total fat mass (p = 0.02)
It is worth noting that the GlavonoidTM treatment was well-tolerated by subjects and did not result in any adverse outcomes as related to the measured outcome parameters
Summary
Licorice flavonoid oil (LFO) has been reported to minimize visceral adipose tissue gain in obese mice and to result in a decrease in body weight and body fat in humans; the effects of which may be more pronounced when administered in an overfed state. Licorice flavonoid oil (LFO) has been reported to minimize body weight and visceral adipose tissue gain in obese mice [1,2], and to result in a decrease in body weight and body fat in humans [3]. Human studies to date have focused primarily on anthropometric outcomes (e.g., abdominal fat assessment via computed tomography [CT] scans), while including measures of blood glucose and lipids. No human study has included other important biomarkers of metabolic and cardiovascular health such as adiponectin, resistin, C-reactive protein, and measures of oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity. Aside from the potential effects of LFO on adipose tissue accumulation, a flavonoid component of the licorice root, glabridin, has been shown to have antioxidant properties [5], which may assist in attenuating lipid peroxidation
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