Caralluma Fimbriata Shows Weight Loss Benefits

Central obesity is one of the main risk factors of metabolic syndrome and is often accompanied by high blood pressure, elevated glucose levels and high cholesterol. A recent study has found that the Indian herb Caralluma fimbriata may help overweight and obese people reduce their waist size by 2.6 inches.

Thirty-three overweight or obese adults participated in the study. For 12 weeks, half of the group took 500 mg of Caralluma fimbriata extract twice daily. The other half took a placebo. All of the participants had their exercise and dietary intake closely controlled and monitored throughout the study period.

At the conclusion of the study, the supplement group lost an average of 2.6 inches from their waistlines while the placebo group had only a 1 inch loss.

It is believed that compounds found in Caralluma fimbriata called pregnane glycosides are responsible for its appetite suppressing properties.

The study was conducted by researchers at Victoria University in Australia. It was published in the June 2013 issue of Complementary Therapies in Medicine.

Caralluma fimbriata has traditionally been used in Indian folk remedies as an appetite suppressant and has been the subject of at least two human trial and six safety studies. It has been deemed GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) and is also kosher, halal, and organic.