Efficacy of a novel herbal formulation for weight loss demonstrated in a 16-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with healthy overweight adults

Abstract

Aim: To re-evaluate the weight loss efficacy of LI85008F in healthy overweight adults via a 16-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study.

Materials and methods: One hundred and forty overweight participants (body mass index [BMI] 27-29.9 kg/m² , 29.3% male; ages 21-50 years) were randomized into placebo (n =70) and LI85008F (n =70) groups. The participants received either 900 mg/d of LI85008F in two divided doses or two identical placebo capsules. In addition, participants were counselled to follow an ~1800 kcal/d diet and to engage in walking for 30 min, 5 d/wk throughout the study.

Results: At the end of the trial period, the LI85008F supplemented group showed significant reductions in body weight (5.36 ± 1.769 vs. 0.87 ± 1.381 kg; P < 0.0001) and BMI (2.05 ± 0.693 vs. 0.34 ± 0.559 kg/m² ; P < 0.0001), compared with placebo. Significant reductions in waist and hip circumferences, and a 2.08-fold reduction of waist/hip ratio, were noted in the LI85008F supplemented group. LI85008F supplementation also resulted in significant improvements in lipid profiles, compared with the placebo; low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol decreased, while high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol increased, resulting in a significantly improved LDL/HDL ratio. No major adverse events were reported by the participants during the study.

Conclusions: The unique herbal extract blend LI85008F, combined with modest calorie restriction and physical activity, is well tolerated, safe, and effective for weight management in overweight men and women.

Keywords: Curcuma longa; Moringa oleifera; Murraya koeingii; LI85008F; body mass index; body weight management; randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical study.