Torben S Andersen, Medic House of Scandinavia, Østrehavnevej 31

1. Early sensation of Gastric Fullness following a herbal preparation used for weight loss Torben S Andersen, Medic House of Scandinavia, Østrehavnevej 31 DK 5700, Svendborg, Denmark We previously reported slowing of gastric emptying following consumption of a herbal preparation, and demonstrated weight reduction over 45 days3, see Fig 1. Delayed gastric emptying may be associated with prolonged fullness, later development of hunger, but another possibility is earlier development of a sensation of fullness during a meal. SUBJECTS, METHODS AND DESIGN Twenty healthy subjects, aged 20 to 60 years (BMI 25-30 kg/m2) were randomly allocated to treatment with two capsules of a herbal treatment before each of three main meals for 20 days (ten subjects) or to treatment with two capsules of a placebo capsule taken before each of three main meals for 20 days (ten subjects). Each subject was provided with a stopwatch, which was started at the commencement of each meal and stopped when the subject felt full. Each subject made the fullness assessment daily during the last week of the treatment period, and the average values for each meal for each subject were calculated. The observations were made in a primary care setting in France. The herbal preparation contained Guarana, Yerbe Mate and Damiana (95mg, 112mg, 36mg per capsule) and a colour matched identical shape placebo capsule was based on sugars. RESULTS The times to subjective fullness (minutes) are shown in the table: *Significantly different p<0.01 DISCUSSION In our earlier publication3 we reported a slowing of gastric emptying in response to treatment with the herbal preparation, and evidence of weight reduction. The evidence for an earlier subjective sensation of fullness following herbal treatment suggests that gastric motility is modified by one or several components of the three herbs. At the present time treatment of overweight and obesity is limited to dietary therapy, drug treatments that either modify fat absorption or alter appetite, and surgical invasive treatments. The preliminary evidence provided here for a potential role for modifying gastric motility and thus shortening the time to perception of fullness with a herbal preparation, holds promise as a further line of approach and merits further investigation. References 1. James WPT, & Ralph A. (1999) New understanding in obesity research. Proc Nutr Soc58, 383-393. 2. Oster G, Thompson D, Edelsberg J., et al. (1999) Lifetime health and economic benefits of weight loss among obese persons. Am J Public Health89, 1536-1542. 3. Andersen T, Fogh J. (2001) Weight loss and delayed gastric emptying following a South American herbal preparation in overweight patients. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics14, 243-250. [Correspondence: Dr Torben Andersen, c/o Medic House of Scandinavia, Østrehavnevej 31, DK 5700, Svendborg, Denmark] ABSTRACT Prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity require that effective methods to control food energy intake be developed. Delayed gastric emptying may be associated with prolonged fullness, later development of hunger, but another possibility is earlier development of a sensation of fullness during a meal. Twenty healthy subjects, aged 20 to 60 years (BMI 25-30 kg/m2) were randomly allocated to treatment with two capsules of a herbal treatment before each of three main meals for 20 days (ten subjects) or to treatment with two capsules of a placebo capsule taken before each of three main meals for 20 days (ten subjects). Each subject was provided with a stopwatch, which was started at the commencement of each meal and stopped when the subject felt full. Each subject made the fullness assessment daily during the last week of the treatment period, and the average values for each meal for each subject were calculated. The herbal preparation contained Guarana, Yerbe Mate and Damiana (95mg, 112mg, 36mg per capsule) and a colour matched identical shape placebo capsule was based on sugars. The mean times to subjective fullness are were 13.6, 21.5, 26.4 minutes following placebo treatment, and 7.5, 12, and 13.5 minutes following herbal treatment, after breakfast, lunch and dinner respectively. The sum of the times, 61.5 minutes after placebo and 33 minutes after herbal preparation were significantly different (p<0.01). The evidence for an earlier subjective sensation of fullness following herbal treatment suggests that gastric motility is modified by one or several components of the three herbs. The preliminary evidence provided here for a potential role for modifying gastric motility and thus shortening the time to perception of fullness with a herbal preparation, holds promise as a further line of approach and merits further investigation. BACKGROUND Obesity and Overweight are major public health challenges at the present time1 and their rising prevalence will lead to higher rates for type II diabetes mellitus and vascular disease in the coming years2. Control of food energy intake can be achieved by dietary choice, changed food composition (e.g. less energy dense) modification of the digestive and absorptive processes and manipulation of hunger and satiety by diet, drugs or herbal preparations. Prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity require that effective methods to control food energy intake be developed.