Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2026
04:48
Control of Eating Behavior Using a Novel Feedback System
Published on: May 8, 2018
Natural products and body weight control
Jay Lee1, Yanmei Li, Chunhua Li
1Department of Research & Development, Beijing Gingko Group, Beijing, China 100081.
North American Journal of Medical Sciences
|April 28, 2012
Summary
This review summarizes natural products like catechins and capsaicin for effective body weight management. These potent compounds show safety, but further research on mechanisms and interactions is needed.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Obesity is a global health concern requiring effective weight management strategies.
- Natural products are increasingly explored for their potential role in weight management.
- Numerous natural compounds exist, necessitating a focused review on commonly available and potent options.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and summarize the effects of commonly available natural products on body weight management.
- To identify potent natural products supported by recent scientific literature.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of PubMed and scientific journals.
- Inclusion of 53 recent publications.
- Analysis of natural products including catechins, capsaicin, conjugated linoleic acid, fucoxanthin, soy isoflavone, glabridin, astaxanthin, and cyaniding-3-glucoside.
Main Results:
- Several natural products demonstrate effectiveness in body weight management.
- The reviewed natural products are generally considered safe for use.
- Key compounds analyzed include catechins, capsaicin, and fucoxanthin.
Conclusions:
- Commonly available natural products show promise for safe and effective body weight management.
- Further research is required to elucidate mechanisms of action, metabolism, and long-term safety.
- Investigating interactions between these natural products and dietary components is crucial.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Regulation of Food Intake
Short-term regulation of food intake primarily involves neural signals from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, blood nutrient levels, and GI tract hormones. Communication between the gut and brain via vagal nerve fibers plays a significant role in evaluating the contents of the gut. Clinical studies have shown that protein ingestion produces a more prolonged response in these nerve fibers compared to an equivalent amount of glucose. Additionally, the activation of stretch receptors caused by GI...
01:19Regulation of Metabolism
Cellular needs and conditions vary from cell to cell and change within individual cells over time. For example, the required enzymes and energetic demands of stomach cells are different from those of fat storage cells, skin cells, blood cells, and nerve cells. Furthermore, a digestive cell works much harder to process and break down nutrients during the time that closely follows a meal compared with many hours after a meal. As these cellular demands and conditions vary, so do the amounts and...
01:19Energy Balance
The human body gets energy from the three macronutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Energy is released when the chemical bonds in the organic compounds present in the food are broken down. The energy content of food is measured in kilocalories (kcal), defined as the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water by one degree Celsius. This value is determined by measuring the temperature change of the water surrounding a calorimeter after the complete...
01:17Hormonal Regulation of Blood Pressure
Endocrinal or hormonal intervention in the cardiovascular system is predominantly exerted by the catecholamines - epinephrine and norepinephrine, as well as a slew of hormones that interact with renal function to modulate blood volume.
Epinephrine and Norepinephrine
The adrenal medulla releases epinephrine and norepinephrine, catecholamines that enhance and extend the sympathetic or "fight or flight" physiological response. These hormones escalate heart rate and the force of contraction while...
Epinephrine and Norepinephrine
The adrenal medulla releases epinephrine and norepinephrine, catecholamines that enhance and extend the sympathetic or "fight or flight" physiological response. These hormones escalate heart rate and the force of contraction while...
01:24Obesity
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in adipocytes...
01:21Drug Dosing: Obese Patients
In the United States, obesity is a prominent concern. It is linked to heightened mortality rates due to increased occurrences of conditions such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and diabetes compared to nonobese individuals. A patient is classified as obese if their actual body weight surpasses the ideal or desirable body weight by 20%, based on Metropolitan Life Insurance Company data. Ideal body weights consider average weights and heights for males and females...