Glucomannan — Is It an
Effective Weight Loss Supplement?
Weight loss isn't
continuously simple, and long-run success needs dedication and perseverance.
Countless supplements
and diet plans are marketed as effective weight loss strategies, claiming they
make things easier.
One of them is termed
glucomannan, a natural dietary fiber promoted as an efficient weightloss supplement.
This article looks in
detail at the science behind glucomannan and if it's something you should be
taking.
What is glucomannan?
Glucomannan may be a
natural water soluble dietary fiber extracted from the roots of Amorphophallus
paeonifolius, additionally called konjac.
It is on the market as a
supplement, in drink mixes and is additionally further to food product like
pasta and flour.
It is additionally the
most ingredient in shirataki noodles.
Glucomannan includes
four-hundredth of the dry weight of Amorphophallus paeonifolius, that is native
to South East Asia. It has a long history of use in herbal blends and
traditional foods like tofu, noodles, and konjac jelly.
In addition to being sold-out
as a dietary supplement, it's used as a food additive: AN surface-active agent
and thickening indicated with the quantity E E425-ii.
Glucomannan has AN
exceptional ability to soak up water and is one amongst the simplest
better-known viscous dietary fibers.
It absorbs such a lot
liquid that a really low quantity of glucomannan in an exceedingly glass of
water turns the complete content into a gel.
These distinctive
properties area unit believed to mediate its effects on weight loss.
SUMMARY
Glucomannan
is a water soluble dietary fiber, extracted from the roots of elephant yamt has
gained goodish attention as a weight loss supplement.
How does glucomannan
help with weight loss?
Glucomannan is a water
soluble dietary fiber.
Like other soluble
fibers, it is believed to promote weight loss in several ways (1):
- It has very few calories.
- It takes up area within the
abdomen and promotes a sense of satiation (satiety), reducing food intake
at a resulting meal.
- Delays emptying of the stomach,
which contributes to increased satiety.
- Like other soluble fibers, it
reduces the absorption of proteins and fats.
It also feeds friendly
bacteria in your gut, which convert it to short-chain fatty acids like
butyrate, which has been shown to protect against fat gain in some animal
studies.
Feeding intestinal
bacteria can also have other benefits. Some studies have shown a correlation
between altered intestinal bacteria and body weight.
Glucomannan differs from
most different soluble fibers therein it's exceptionally viscous, creating it
significantly effective for weight loss.
SUMMARY
Like
other soluble fibers, glucomannan absorbs water from the stomach and
contributes to the feeling of satiety. Plus, it can promote reduced calorie
intake and weight loss in other ways.
Does it really work?
Several randomized
controlled trials have studied the effects of glucomannan on weight loss. These
types of studies are the gold standard of scientific research in humans.
Several randomised
controlled trials have studied the results of glucomannan on weight loss.
In the largest study,
176 healthy however overweight folks on a calorie-restricted diet were
arbitrarily allotted a glucomannan supplement or a placebo (8).
Three totally
different|completely different} glucomannan supplements with different doses
were tested. Some also contained other fibers.
These were the results
after 5 weeks:
As you can see, the
weight loss was significantly higher among those who supplemented with
glucomannan.
Several other studies
agree with these results. Glucomannan caused modest weight loss in overweight
and obese people when it was ingested regularly before a meal (9, 10, 11).
t is especially
effective once combined with a weight loss diet.
The same applies to all
or any weight loss strategies - they work best together.
SUMMARY
When
taken before meals, glucomannan can lead to modest weight loss in overweight
people, primarily by creating a feeling of satiety and reducing calorie intake.
Other Health Benefits
In addition to promoting
weight loss, glucomannan can improve some risk factors for heart disease.
According to a
systematic review of 14 studies, glucomannan may decrease (10):
Total cholesterol at 19
mg / dL (0.5 mmol / L).
LDL "bad"
cholesterol at 16 mg / dL (0.4 mmol / L).
Triglycerides per 11 mg
/ dL (0.12 mmol / L).
Fasting blood sugar at
7.4 mg / dL (0.4 mmol / L).
It mainly reduces
cholesterol in the blood by decreasing the absorption of cholesterol in the
intestine.
According to this
research, adding glucomannan to your diet may reduce your risk of developing
heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
As a water soluble fiber,
glucomannan has also been used successfully to treat constipation (12, 13).
SUMMARY
Glucomannan can improve
several important risk factors for heart disease, including total cholesterol,
"bad" LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and fasting blood sugar.
Dosage and side effects
To lose weight, a dose
of 1 gram, 3 times per day is considered sufficient (14).
Mixed with water,
glucomannan expands and may absorb up to fifty times its weight. Therefore, the
recommended dose of glucomannan is lower compared to other fiber supplements.
Glucomannan has no
effect on weight loss unless it is taken before a meal. The time
recommendations vary from 15 minutes to 1 hour before a meal (14, 8).
Glucomannan is well
tolerated and is generally considered safe.
However, if glucomannan
expands before reaching the stomach, it can cause suffocation or blockage of
the throat and esophagus, the tube that carries food from the mouth to the
stomach.
To avoid this, you
should wash with 1–2 glasses of water or another liquid.
Some people may
experience mild side effects, such as bloating, flatulence, loose stools, or
diarrhea, but these negative effects are rare.
Glucomannan can also
reduce the absorption of oral medications such as sulfonylurea, a diabetes
medication. This can be avoided by taking the medication at least four
hours after or one hour before taking glucomannan.
SUMMARY
Glucomannan is generally
considered safe. The suggested dose is 1 gram, taken 3 times a day with water.
Be sure to take it before a meal, as otherwise it has no effect on weight loss.
Should you try
Glucomannan?
Judging from the
evidence, glucomannan is an effective weight loss supplement. But as with any
weight loss strategy, it doesn't work in isolation.
The only known way to
lose weight in the long term is to make a permanent change in your lifestyle.
Glucomannan can help
make it easier, but it won't work miracles on its own.
Judging from the evidence, glucomannan is an effective weight loss supplement. But as with any weight loss strategy, it doesn't work in isolation.