Effects of glycerol addition to diet in weight-reducing clubs

As a weight-losing adjunct, 7.5 g glycerol in a 25 per cent solution was administered before meals to members of a commercial weight-reducing club. The same amount of glucose served as placebo. Members were randomly given either solution for six weeks. Body weight and hunger ratings were recorded weekly. Thirty-one members completed the study. Initial mean body weight was 77.5 +/- 12.9 (s.d.) kg corresponding to a Broca index of 1.16 +/- 0.18. Members on glycerol lost 4.1 +/- 2.2 kg and those on glucose lost 3.2 +/- 2.4 kg (n.s.). At the onset of the meal, plasma glycerol concentration was about ten times above baseline values. The study extends previous observations made in smaller groups that glycerol does not improve weight loss in subjects on a hypocaloric diet.