Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Obesity, and metabolic syndrome (MS) are highly prevalent in Saudi Arabia, increasing the risk for type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Oligonol produced from lychee fruit polyphenols (LFP) has been reported to reduce visceral obesity, and ameliorate MS in Japanese subject.

Aim: To investigate the effect of oligonol supplementation on MS risk factors in overweight and obese Saudi females.

Subjects and methods: Sixty obese and overweight healthy Saudi females were recruited. Blood pressure (BP), height, weight, waist circumference (WC) were measured, and glucose, triglycerides, and HDL cholesterol were assayed in fasting serum samples. Dietary intake, and lifestyle habits were recorded by questionnaire. Subjects were divided into two groups with equal mean body mass index (BMI), in a double-blind /Case-Control study design. Group A (GA) was given placebo, and group B (GB) was given oligonol, and were followed for three months, with all measurements being repeated at the end.

Results: Some subjects were excluded for various reasons, leaving 25 in GA, and 22 in GB. Therefore, the two groups differed significantly in recalculated mean BMI at zero time (29.30±3.97 for GA, and 31.63±4.16 for GB, P=0.046). No side effects or significant differences in diet or lifestyle were found at the end of the study. Mean triglycerides was significantly increased in GA (P=0.011), and decreased in GB (P=0.008). Mean WC increased in GA (P=0.027). Percentage of subjects with high diastolic BP (DBP) in GB decreased significantly from 36% to 9% (P=0.031), and percentage of subjects with metabolic syndrome decreased significantly from 27% to 5% (P=0.039) by the end of the study.

Conclusion: Oligonol supplement succeeded in reversing MS in obese Saudi females by controlling abdominal obesity, and DBP, and decreasing hypertriglyceridemia, thus decreasing cardiometabolic risk without dietary restriction or lifestyle modification.