Effects of a leucine and pyridoxine‐containing nutraceutical on body weight and composition in obese adults

Abstract

We recently demonstrated leucine to modulate energy partitioning between adipose tissue and muscle. Further, leucine exhibits a synergy with B6, resulting in reduced adipocyte lipid storage coupled with increased muscle fat oxidation. A nutraceutical (NuShape) containing 2.25 g leucine and 30 mg B6 increased fat oxidation by >;30 g/d in a 28‐day RCT. To evaluate the efficacy of this combination in modulating body weight and composition, we conducted two 24‐week placebo‐controlled RCTs, one with weight maintenance (n=20) and one hypocaloric (−500 kcal/d; n=24). The supplement resulted in fat loss in the maintenance study (−1.12±0.36 and −1.82±0.70 kg at 12 and 24 weeks, p<0.01 vs placebo) while no change was found in the placebo‐group. In the hypocaloric study, the supplement group lost up to twice as much weight (6.18±1.02 vs. 3.40±0.81 kg at 12 weeks and 8.15±1.33 vs. 5.25±1.13 kg at 24 weeks, p<0.01) and fat (4.96±0.61 vs. 2.31±0.53 kg at 12 weeks and 7.00±0.95 vs. 4.22±0.74 kg at 24 weeks, p<0.01) than placebo. Thus, this nutraceutical combination results in significant fat loss in the absence of caloric restriction and markedly enhances weight and fat loss by 50–80% over a 24‐week period.