Purpose: This study examined whether adding Dichrostachys glomerata (DG; 300 mg/d) to thermogenic supplements with (DG + C) and without (DG) caffeine and other nutrients affects weight loss, changes in body composition, and/or markers of health.
Methods: Sixty-eight participants (female, 54%) were grouped in a double-blind, parallel, stratified random, placebo-controlled manner to supplement their diet with a placebo, DG, or DG + C for 12 weeks while maintaining their normal diet and physical activity. Diet, physical activity, body weight, body composition, anthropometric measures, resting energy expenditure, fasting blood samples, and questionnaires were obtained at 0, 4, 8, and 12 weeks and analyzed using general linear models with repeated measures. Data are reported as mean (±SD) and change from baseline (mean, 95% confidence interval) for weeks 4, 8, and 12, respectively, with p values showing changes from baseline.
Results: DG treatment promoted significant but minor reductions in fat mass (-0.56 [-1.02, -0.14], p = 0.01; -0.63 [-1.23, -0.02], p = 0.04; -0.71 [-1.47, 0.09] kg, p = 0.08) and percent body fat (-0.46 [-0.96, -0.04], p = 0.07; -0.63 [-1.16, -0.10], p = 0.02; -0.78 [-1.45, 0.07] %, p = 0.03). There was some evidence that DG + C increased resting energy expenditure, decreased hunger, increased satiety, and improved sleep quality (diminished in DG + C). No other significant effects were observed.
Conclusions: Ingestion of thermogenic supplements containing DG (300 mg/d) with and without caffeine and other nutrients in overweight but otherwise healthy participants who did not alter diet or physical activity promoted clinically insignificant changes in body weight and composition.
Keywords: Dichrostachys glomerata; ID: NCT03395262; caffeine; cardiovascular health; dietary supplement; thermogenic.