Aim: determine the effectiveness of fibresupplementation with PolyGlycopleX® (PGX®), on body weight and composition, frequency of eating and dietary intake in overweight adults.
Study design: randomized, three-arm, parallel, blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Subjects: 118 overweight adults aged 25–70 years and with BMI 25–35 kg/m2 were randomised to one of three groups; 4,5 g PGX as softgels (PGXS), 5 g PGX granules (PGXG) or 5 g rice flour (RF) control. PolyGlycopleX (PGX) is a commercial functional fibre complex, manufactured by a proprietary process (EnviroSimplex®) from three dietary fibres: konjac glucomannan, sodium alginate, and xanthan gum. Patients in Arm 1 (PGXS) received 1–2 softgels three times a day in week 1, 2–4 softgels three times a day in week 2 and 4–6 softgels, three times a day in week 3 to week 12. The recommended dose was four (4) to six (6) softgels containing 0,64 g fibre each, three times a day. This represented a supplement of dietary of between 7,6–11,4 g/day. Participants in Arm 2 were instructed to consume 5 g of PGXG containing 4,4 g fibre provided in a single dose foil sachet taken three times a day just before or with meals over the 12-week intervention period. This represented a supplement of dietary fibre of 12,2 g/day. Those in Arm 3 were provided with 5 gof RF containing 4 g fibre in the same dose format as the PGXG, representing 12 g fibre/day. At the end of the 12-week intervention period, measurement of participants’ height, weight and waist circumference were repeated.
No adverse events were reported.
Results: in the PGXG group, intention-to-treat analysis showed there was a significant reduction in waist circumference (2,5 cm; p = 0,003). Subgroup analysis showed that PGXG supplementation at the recommended dose resulted in a reduction in bodyweight (-1,4 ± 0,10 kg, p < 0,01), body mass index (BMI) reduction (-0,5 ± 0,10, p < 0,01), reduced number of eating occasions (-1,4 ± 1,2, p < 0,01) and a reduced intake of grain food (-1,52 ± 1,84 serves, p = 0,019). PGXG at the recommended dose resulted in a reduction in weight and BMI which was significantly greater than that for RF (p = 0,001).
Authors’ conclusion: these results demonstrate the potential benefits of PGX fibre in controlling frequency of eating and in weight loss.
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