The use of a Cissus quadrangularis formulation in the management of weight loss and metabolic syndrome

The study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design involving 123 overweight and obese persons (47.2% male; 52.8% female; ages 19–50). The 92 obese (BMI >30) participants were randomized into three groups; placebo, formulation/no diet, and formulation/diet (2100–2200 calories/day). The 31 overweight participants (BMI = 25–29) formed a fourth (no diet) treatment group. All participants received two daily doses of the formulation or placebo and remained on a normal or calorie-controlled diet for 8 weeks.At the end of the trial period, statistically significant net reductions in weight and central obesity, as well as in fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and C-reactive protein were observed in participants who received the formulation, regardless of diet.Cissus quadrangularis formulation appears to be useful in the management of weight loss and metabolic syndrome.Although still defined in diverse terms, metabolic syndrome is a common disorder arising as a result of the increased prevalence of obesity throughout the world [1]. Metabolic syndrome, also known as insulin resistance syndrome and Syndrome X, has 3 main potential etiologic categories: obesity and disorders of adipose tissue; insulin resistance; and a constellation of independent factors (e.g., molecules of hepatic, vascular, and immunologic origin) that mediate specific components of the metabolic syndrome [2].In the United States, over 60% of the adult population is now overweight or obese [3] and 47 million people have metabolic syndrome, which will soon overtake cigarette smoking as the number one risk factor for heart disease [4,5]. Globally, the disorder has become a major public health challenge. (In Cameroon, approximately 25% of the population is now considered obese.)Obesity has been shown to contribute to high serum cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol and hyperglycemia, all of which increase the chances of cardiovascular disease (CVD) [6-8]. Correl