title: Effect of short-term ingestion of konjac glucomannan on serum cholesterol in healthy men. Safety and Efficacy of Glucomannan for Weight Loss in Overweight and Moderately Obese Adults Experiences with three different fiber supplements in weight reduction. Evaluation of the pharmacotherapeutic efficacy of Garcinia cambogia plus Amorphophallus konjac for the treatment of obesity. Viscosity of fiber preloads affects food intake in adolescents. Childhood obesity treatment: double blinded trial on dietary fibres (glucomannan) versus placebo. Effects of a carbohydrate-restricted diet with and without supplemental soluble fiber on plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and other clinical markers of cardiovascular risk. Effect of dietary supplementation with glucomannan on plasma total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic children. Could dyslipidemic children benefit from glucomannan intake? Effect of plant sterols and glucomannan on lipids in individuals with and without type II diabetes Effect of glucomannan on obese patients: a clinical study. [Chronic use of glucomannan in the dietary treatment of severe obesity]. Low dose chromium-polynicotinate or policosanol is effective in hypercholesterolemic children only in combination with glucomannan.
abstract: The effects of the soluble fiber konjac glucomannan ( GM ) on serum cholesterol concentrations were investigated in 63 healthy men in a double-blind crossover , placebo-controlled study . After a 2-wk baseline period , the subjects were given 3.9 g GM or placebo daily for 4 wk . After a washout period of 2 wk , crossover took place , followed by another 4 wk of treatment . The subjects were encouraged not to change their ordinary diets or general lifestyle during the investigation . GM fibers reduced total cholesterol ( TC ) concentrations by 10 % ( P < 0.0001 ) , low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) concentrations by 7.2 % ( P < 0.007 ) , triglycerides by 23 % ( P < 0.03 ) , and systolic blood pressure by 2.5 % ( P < 0.02 ) . High-density-lipoprotein cholesterol ( HDL-C ) and the ratio of LDL-C to HDL-C did not change significantly . No change in diastolic blood pressure or body weight was observed . No adverse effects were observed . The results of this study show that GM is an effective cholesterol-lowering dietary adjunct Background . Few safe and effective dietary supplements are available to promote weight loss . We evaluated the safety and efficacy of glucomannan , a water-soluble fiber supplement , for achieving weight loss in overweight and moderately obese individuals consuming self-selected diets . Methods . Participants were r and omly assigned to take 1.33 grams of glucomannan or identically looking placebo capsules with 236.6 mL ( 8 ounces ) of water one hour before breakfast , lunch , and dinner for 8 weeks . The primary efficacy outcome was change in body weight after 8 weeks . Other efficacy outcomes were changes in body composition , hunger/fullness , and lipid and glucose concentrations . Safety outcomes included gastrointestinal symptoms/tolerance and serum liver enzymes and creatinine levels . Results . A total of 53 participants ( 18–65 years of age ; BMI 25–35 kg/m2 ) were enrolled and r and omized . The two groups did not differ with respect to baseline characteristics and compliance with the study supplement . At 8 weeks , there was no significant difference between the glucomannan and placebo groups in amount of weight loss ( −.40 ± .06 and −.43 ± .07 , resp . ) or other efficacy outcomes or in any of the safety outcomes . Conclusions . Glucomannan supplements administered over 8 weeks were well tolerated but did not promote weight loss or significantly alter body composition , hunger/fullness , or lipid and glucose parameters . This trial is registered with NCT00613600 BACKGROUND Fiber supplements added to a caloric diet have additional effects on weight reduction in overweight subjects . The aim of this study was to compare the effect of various commercial fiber supplements ( glucomannan , guar gum and alginate ) on weight reduction in healthy overweight subjects . MATERIAL / METHODS One hundred and seventy six men and women were included to receive either active fiber substance or placebo in r and omized placebo-controlled studies . The fiber supplements consisted of the viscous fibers glucomannan ( Chrombalance ) , glucomannan and guar gum ( Appe-Trim ) and glucomannan , guar gum and alginat ( Glucosahl ) . RESULTS All fiber supplements plus a balanced 1200 kcal diet induced significantly weight reduction more than placebo and diet alone , during a five week observation period . However , there were no significant differences between the different fibers in their ability to induce weight reduction , which was approximately 0.8 kg/week ( 3.8 + /- 0.9 , 4.4 + /- 2.0 , 4.1 + /- 0.6 in the Chrombalance , Appe-Trim and Glucosahl group , respectively ) . CONCLUSIONS Glucomannan induced body weight reduction in healthy overweight subjects , whereas the addition of guar gum and alginate did not seem to cause additional loss of weight Hydroxycitric acid ( HCA ) , the main compound of Garcinia cambogia extract , is a competitive blocker of ATP-citrate-lyase , presenting a potential inhibition of fatty acid bio synthesis . Glucomannan fibers , abundant in Amorphophallus konjac , seem to reduce the absorption kinetics of dietary fat . Therefore , the aim of this double-blind r and omized study was to evaluate the pharmacotherapeutic efficacy of st and ardized extracts of G. cambogia ( 52.4 % HCA ) plus A. konjac ( 94.9 % glucomannan ) in the treatment of obesity . Fifty-eight obese subjects ( BMI 30.0 - 39.9 kg/m(2 ) ) were assigned to the  placebo  group ( n = 26 ) or the treatment group ( n = 32 ) ; no dietary restrictions were applied . Over a 12-week period , subjects were given daily doses of either Garcinia ( 2.4 g ) plus Konjac ( 1.5 g ) or placebo prior to their main meals ( 3 times/day ) . Before the start of treatment , and every 4 weeks thereafter , the following were recorded : height , weight , circumferences and body composition , resting energy expenditure ( REE ) , lipid profile and glucose levels . The treatment had no significant effect on anthropometric parameters , REE , triglycerides or glucose levels . However , a significant reduction was observed in total cholesterol ( -32.0 + /- 35.1 mg/dL ) and LDL-c levels ( -28.7 + /- 32.7 mg/dL ) in the treated group , the final levels being significantly lower than those of the placebo group ( p = 0.008 and p = 0.020 , respectively ) . The results obtained suggest that the treatment had a significant hypocholesterolemic effect , without influencing the anthropometric or calorimetric parameters tested BACKGROUND AND AIMS Dietary fiber that develops viscosity in the gastrointestinal tract is capable of addressing various aspects of food intake control . The aim of this study was to assess subsequent food intake and appetite in relation to the level of viscosity following three liquid preloads each containing 5 g of either a high ( novel viscous polysaccharide ; NVP ) , medium ( glucomannan ; GLM ) , or low ( cellulose ; CE ) viscosity fiber . METHODS AND RESULTS In this double-blind , r and omized , controlled and crossover trial , 31 healthy weight adolescents ( 25 F:6 M ; age 16.1+/-0.6 years ; BMI 22.2+/-3.7 kg/m(2 ) ) consumed one of the three preloads 90 min prior to an ad libitum pizza meal . Preloads were identical in taste , appearance , nutrient content and quantity of fiber , but different in their viscosities ( 10 , 410 , and 700 poise for CE , GLM , and NVP , respectively ) . Pizza intake was significantly lower ( p=0.008 ) after consumption of the high-viscosity NVP ( 278+/-111 g ) compared to the medium-viscosity GLM ( 313+/-123 g ) and low-viscosity CE ( 316+/-138 g ) preloads , with no difference between the GLM and CE preloads . Appetite scores , physical symptoms and 24-h intake did not differ among treatment groups . CONCLUSION A highly viscous NVP preload leads to reduced subsequent food intake , in terms of both gram weight and calories , in healthy weight adolescents . This study provides preliminary evidence of an independent contribution of viscosity on food intake and may form a basis for further studies on factors influencing food intake in adolescents Dietary fibres are frequently used for the treatment of paediatric obesity . The aim of this clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy of glucomannan in the  child obesity management . This experimental design was double blinded with a block r and omisation , alpha = 0.05 , beta = 0.2 and delta = 50 % . The study involved 60 children under 15 years of age ( mean age 11.2 years , mean overweight 46 % ) , 30 of them under glucomannan treatment ( 1 g twice a day for two months ) and 30 under placebo and the same schedule . The drug and the placebo were indistinguishable both for the family and the physician . During the two months study period the children followed a normocaloric diet evaluated every two weeks by a dietetic record book . At the beginning of the study the drug and the placebo groups were comparable in regards to anthropometric data . At the end , the mean overweight of the drug group was decreased from 49.5 % to 41 % and that of the placebo group from 43.9 % to 41.7 % . Both decreases were significant ( p < 0.01 ) , but no significant difference was observed between the drug and the placebo groups . The only significant difference concerned the lipid metabolism . The children under glucomannan treatment manifested a significant decrease of alpha-lipoprotein and an increase of pre-beta-lipoprotein and triglycerides ; the children under placebo manifested only a decrease of triglycerides and apo beta-lipoprotein . We suggest that this metabolic alteration may derive from a primary decrease of alpha-lipoprotein , most likely because of an inadequate water intake . ( ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS Carbohydrate-restricted diets ( CRDs ) promote weight loss , reductions in plasma triacylglycerol ( TAG ) levels , and increases in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( HDL-C ) levels but may cause undesirable low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) responses in some people . The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of adding soluble fiber to a CRD on plasma LDL-C and other traditionally measured markers of cardiovascular disease . Using a parallel-arm , double-blind , placebo-controlled design , 30 overweight and obese men ( body mass index , 25 - 35 kg/m(2 ) ) were r and omly assigned to supplement a CRD with soluble fiber ( Konjac-mannan , 3g/d ) ( n = 15 ) or placebo ( n = 15 ) . Plasma lipids , anthropometrics , body composition , blood pressure , and nutrient intake were evaluated at baseline and at 6 and 12 weeks . Compliance was excellent as assessed by 7-day weighed dietary records and ketonuria . Both groups experienced decreases in ( P < .01 ) body weight , percent body fat , systolic blood pressure , waist circumference , and plasma glucose levels . After 12 weeks , HDL-C and TAG improved significantly in the fiber ( 10 % and -34 % ) and placebo ( 14 % , -43 % ) groups . LDL-C decreased by 17.6 % ( P < .01 ) at week 6 and 14.1 % ( P < .01 ) at week 12 in the fiber group . Conversely , LDL-C reductions were significant in the placebo group only after 12 weeks ( -6.0 % , P < .05 ) . We conclude that although clearly effective at lowering LDL-C , adding soluble fiber to a CRD during active and significant weight loss provides no additional benefits to the diet alone . Furthermore , a CRD led to clinical ly important positive alterations in cardiovascular disease risk factors AIM This paper evaluates the effect of the adjunct of the hydrosoluble fiber glucomannan to a Step-One-Diet in 40 plasma hypercholesterolemic children , during a r and omized controlled trial , to reduce plasma cholesterol . METHODS All the subjects recruited underwent an 8-week run in diet period ; a Step-One-Diet was prescribed . After that , they were r and omly allocated to one of two groups : Step-One-Diet only ( control ) , and Step-One-Diet plus glucomannan in gelatine capsules . After another 8 weeks of treatment , the results were compared within and between the two groups . RESULTS Glucomannan treated group showed decreased values in plasma total cholesterol ( TC ) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) vs. control group after 8 weeks of treatment . The percentage decrease showed a statistically significant difference between sex groups . Decreases were observed in favor of female vs. male children in TC ( 24 % vs. 9 % ) and LDL-C ( 30 % vs. 9 % ) . CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that glucomannan may represent a rationale adjunct to diet therapy in primary prevention in high risk hypercholesterolemic children OBJECTIVE Primary dyslipidemias are major risk factors for cardiovascular disease and should be addressed early in life . The aim of this study was to evaluate , in children affected by primary hypercholesterolemia , the efficacy and tolerability of a short-term treatment with a dietary supplement containing glucomannan . METHODS A double-blind , r and omized , placebo-controlled , cross-over trial was conducted in 36 children ( aged 6 - 15 years ) affected by primary hypercholesterolemia . After a 4-week run-in period with dietary counseling , children received glucomannan or placebo twice-daily for 8 weeks , separated by a 4-week washout period . Lipid profile was assessed at baseline and after each treatment period . RESULTS Glucomannan significantly reduced total cholesterol ( TC ) by 5.1 % ( p = 0.008 ) , low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) levels by 7.3 % ( p = 0.008 ) and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 7.2 % ( p = 0.002 ) as compared with placebo . No significant differences were observed in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol , triglyceride , Apolipoprotein B , and Apolipoprotein A-I concentrations . According to sex , glucomannan significantly reduced in females , but not in males , TC ( -6.1 % , p = 0.011 ) and LDL cholesterol ( -9 % , p = 0.015 ) . No major adverse effects were recorded and only few patients experienced transitory intestinal discomfort . CONCLUSION Treatment with glucomannan of children affected by primary dyslipidemia is well-tolerated and effectively lowers total and LDL cholesterol in females and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol , but not Apolipoprotein B in both males and females Objective : The purpose of this study was to determine whether supplements of plant sterols and /or glucomannan improve lipid profile and cholesterol bio synthesis in mildly hypercholesterolemic type II diabetic and non-diabetic subjects and to compare the response of these two subject groups to the treatments . Design : A r and omized , crossover study consisting of four phases of 21 days , with each phase separated by a 28-day washout . Setting : The Mary Emily Clinical Nutrition Research Unit of McGill University . Subjects : Eighteen non-diabetic individuals and 16 type II diabetic individuals aged 38–74 years . Interventions : Subjects were supplemented with plant sterols ( 1.8 g/day ) , glucomannan ( 10 g/day ) , a combination of glucomannan and plant sterols , and a placebo , provided in the form of bars . Results : Overall plasma cholesterol concentrations were lowered ( P<0.05 ) after combination treatment ( 4.72±0.20 mmol/l ) compared to control ( 5.47±0.18 mmol/l ) . Plasma low-density lipoprotein ( LDL ) cholesterol concentrations were decreased ( P<0.05 ) after glucomannan ( 3.16±0.14 mmol/l ) and combination treatments ( 2.95±0.16 mmol/l ) compared to control ( 3.60±0.16 mmol/l ) . The results of lipid profiles did not differ between subject groups . Overall plasma lathosterol concentrations , an index of cholesterol bio synthesis , were lowered ( P<0.05 ) after the combination treatment compared to the plant sterol treatment . Conclusions : The results suggest that glucomannan and a combination of glucomannan and plant sterols substantially improves plasma LDL cholesterol concentrations . Sponsorship : Forbes Medi-Tech Inc. , Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada An eight-week double-blind trial was conducted to test purified glucomannan fiber as a food supplement in 20 obese subjects .  Glucomannan fiber ( from konjac root ) or placebo was given in 1-g doses ( two 500 mg capsules ) with 8 oz water , 1 h prior to each of three meals per d. Subjects were instructed not to change their eating or exercise patterns . Results showed a significant mean weight loss ( 5.5 lbs ) using glucomannan over an eight-week period . Serum cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly reduced ( 21.7 and 15.0 mg/dl respectively ) in the glucomannan treated group . No adverse reactions to glucomannan were reported Two groups of 25 severely obese patients underwent 3 months of hypocaloric diet therapy either alone or associated with a glucomannan-based fibrous diet supplement ( approx . 4 g/die in 3 doses ) . The comparative analysis of the results obtained in both groups showed that the diet + glucomannan group had a more significant weight loss in relation to the fatty mass alone , an overall improvement in lipid status and carbohydrate tolerance , and a greater adherence to the diet in the absence of any relevant side effects . Due to the marked ability to satiate patients and the positive metabolic effects , glucomannan diet supplements have been found to be particularly efficacious and well tolerated even in the long-term treatment of severe obesity OBJECTIVE A low-fat , fiber-rich diet is the first step in the management for hypercholesterolemic children .  Glucomannan ( GM ) is a natural fiber that has been demonstrated to lower total and LDL-cholesterol . The use of high-dose chromium-polynicotinate ( CP ) and policosanol ( PC ) has also shown cholesterol-lowering benefits . We aim ed at investigating the effects of low-dose CP or PC and their GM combination in hypercholesterolemic children . METHODS A double-blind trial was conducted in 120 children ( 60 M , 60 F , 9 ± 4 years , median 9.6 years , range : 3 - 16 years ) r and omly assigned to 5 neutraceutical and 1 placebo ( only resistant starch ) 8-week treatment groups . Fasting blood glucose ( FBG ) , total cholesterol ( CholT ) , triglycerides ( TG ) , HDL and LDL cholesterol were considered . RESULTS GM combination of low-dose CP or PC  reduced CholT and LDL without changing HDL , TG and FBG . The highest post-treatment changes were seen after GM combination with CP ( CholT 85 ± 3 % and LDL 85 ± 5 % , of pretreatment ) which was significantly ( p < 0.01 ) less than with low-dose CP or PC and starch . When GM was associated with starch , there was no lipid lowering effect , which was an unexpected finding as compared to previous data with GM and no starch . No adverse effects were reported . CONCLUSION This is the first report to show the cholesterol-lowering efficacy  of GM combined treatment with low-dose CP or PC . Further studies are needed to investigate the best combinations and doses of nutraceutics to be added to the st and ard GM treatment . The potential negative association of GM and nutraceutics with starch is clearly shown
target: CONCLUSIONS In otherwise healthy overweight or obese adults , there is some evidence that in the short term GM may help to reduce BW , but not BMI .
background: OBJECTIVE Glucomannan ( GM ) , a soluble fiber derived from the plant Amorphophallus konjac , is marketed as being helpful in reducing body weight .
  However , the data supporting this cl aim are scarce .
  The aim of this review was to systematic ally evaluate the effects of GM on body weight ( BW ) and body mass index ( BMI ) in otherwise healthy obese or overweight children and adults .