Effect of Functional Beverage on Weight Control and Body Fat Mass in Overweight Women

Carnitine, hydroxycitric acid, and soy peptide have been known to be anti-obesity agents. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the combined effects of carnitine, hydroxycitric acid, and soy peptide mixture as a potential anti-obesity supplement in overweight women. Overweight premenopausal women (n=33; PIBW>110; 20 to 39 years) were randomized into two groups: the placebo group and the functional beverage group (the test group). Functional beverage was composed of 2000 mg soy peptide, 20 mg L-carnitine and 300 mg garcinia(40% hydroxycitric acid). Body weight and 3 day food dimes, biochemical measurements and computerized tomography were measured at baseline and 8-week. After 8-week consumption of functional beverage with usual diet and exercise, body weight fell an average of 1.4 kg (2.1%). Visceral fat area reduced an average of 7.8% at L1($69.6{\pm}8.7\;vs\;64.2{\pm}7.5\;\textrm{cm}^2$) and 5.1% ($60.7{\pm}4.9\;vs\;57.6{\pm}4.8\;\textrm{cm}^2$, p<0.05) at L4level after weight loss in the test group. Calf fat area in the test group showed about 10% reduction ($31.0{\pm}2.7\;vs=\;27.7{\pm}1.7\;\textrm{cm}^2$, p<0.05) after weight loss. These reductions in fat areas were not shown in the placebo group. There were tendencies of increase in serum levels of $\beta-hydroxybutyrate$, acetoacetate, and total ketones in the test group. There were 7% and 17% insignificant increase in fasting free fatty acid (FFA) and response area of FFA during oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT), respectively, in this group. ill addition, little weight loss in the test group showed 8% but not significant reduction in insulin response area during OGTT. In conclusion, this study shows that taking a mixture of carnitine, hydroxycitric acid, and soy peptide as a potential anti-obesity supplement for 8-week produced advantageous changes in the weight and visceral fat accumulation of overweight women.