Written by Chrystal Moulton Staff Writer. Body fat percentage and weight were significantly improved after 12 weeks intake of CEM treatment.
Commonly found in East Asia, Crataegus pinnatifida and Crataegus unshiu are herbs used in Chinese medicine to promote digestion1,2. A combination of the leaves from Crataegus pinnatifida and the peels from Crataegus unshiu form a Crataegus extract mixture (CEM) that had be previously shown to improve lipid profile and reduce visceral fat in obese animals3,4. In the current trial, researchers investigated the effect of a Crataegus extract mixture (CEM) on overweight adults5.
Participants between 20-60 years old with BMI between 25-30kg/m2 were eligible for this trial (see study for detailed exclusion criteria). The study was a double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Study duration was 12 weeks. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: low dose CEM (280mg), high dose CEM (400mg), or placebo. At baseline, participants received a 4week supply of their treatment and were required to return at week 4 and week 8 for testing, compliance analysis, and additional treatment supplies. They were instructed to take the assigned treatment 3 times a day with a meal. Diet was restricted and all other supplements were discontinued during the trial. Every 4 weeks, volunteers underwent a bioelectric impedance analysis [BIA] (which assess body fat percentage and fat mass) and anthropometric measurements. Additionally, at baseline and week 12, researchers performed a DXA scan to assess fat mass and body fat percentage as well as a serum lipid analysis on blood samples taken from participants. Data provided by all participants was assessed as the intent to treat population. However, participants who completed the trial according to protocol were assessed as the per protocol population. Physical examination and vitals were conducted at each visit (every 4 weeks).
105 eligible participants were randomly assigned to each of the 3 groups:
- Low dose CEM, n= 34
- Total daily dose = 840mg/d
- Participants who completed trial, n= 21
- High dose CEM, n= 35
- Total daily dose = 1200mg/d
- Participants who completed trial, n= 27
- Placebo, n= 36
- Microcrystaline Cellulose
- Participants who completed trial, n= 23
No statistically significant differences were observed in demographic data between the groups. The average age was 31.0 years old while mean BMI and weight was 27.1 kg/m2 and 75.4 kg, respectively. No significant differences were observed in serum lipid profile, anthropometric measurements, and DXA and BIA scan among participants. After 12 weeks, researchers found the low dose treatment significantly improved body fat mass (p= 0.005), body fat percentage (p= 0.002), trunk fat percentage (p= 0.005), arm fat percentage (p= 0.014), android fat percentage (p= 0.011) and leg fat percentage (p= 0.003). Participants in the high dose treatment also saw significant improvement in trunk (p= 0.003), android (p= 0.034), and leg fat percentage (p= 0.013) along with improvement in body fat percentage and body fat mass ((p= 0.007 and p= 0.006, respectively). Body weight (low dose p= 0.021, high dose p= 0.011) and BMI (low dose p= 0.024, high dose p= 0.009) significantly improved in low and high dose CEM treatment versus placebo. Leptin levels decreased significantly in the high dose CEM treatment group (p= 0.001). No significant differences were observed in serum lipid profile after 12 weeks. Per protocol analysis of serum lipid concentrations showed that triglycerides, and VLDL-C was significantly reduced in the high dose CEM treatment group (p< 0.05). No adverse events were reported during the trial.
CEM treatment had a significant positive effect on fat mass, fat percentage, weight, and BMI in overweight adults. Results from this study indicate CEM as a possible alternative treatment for obesity. Additional studies will be needed to confirm these results.
Source: Song, Jungbin, Do-Yeon Kim, Han Songyi Lee, Sang Youl Rhee, and Hyunjung Lim. “Efficacy of Crataegus Extract Mixture on Body Fat and Lipid Profiles in Overweight Adults: A 12-Week, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.” Nutrients 16, no. 4 (2024): 494.
© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/license
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Posted March 6, 2024.
Chrystal Moulton BA, PMP, is a 2008 graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago. She graduated with a bachelor’s in psychology with a focus on premedical studies and is a licensed project manager. She currently resides in Indianapolis, IN.
References:
- Wang T, An Y, Zhao C, et al. Regulation effects of Crataegus pinnatifida leaf on glucose and lipids metabolism. J Agric Food Chem. May 11 2011;59(9):4987-94. doi:10.1021/jf1049062
- Kang S, Song S, Lee J, Chang H, Lee S. Clinical Investigations of the Effect of Citrus unshiu Peel Pellet on Obesity and Lipid Profile. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2018;2018:4341961. doi:10.1155/2018/4341961
- Lee YH, Kim YS, Song M, Lee M, Park J, Kim H. A Herbal Formula HT048, Citrus unshiu and Crataegus pinnatifida, Prevents Obesity by Inhibiting Adipogenesis and Lipogenesis in 3T3-L1 Preadipocytes and HFD-Induced Obese Rats. Molecules. May 26 2015;20(6):9656-70. doi:10.3390/molecules20069656
- Lee YH, Jin B, Lee SH, et al. Herbal Formula HT048 Attenuates Diet-Induced Obesity by Improving Hepatic Lipid Metabolism and Insulin Resistance in Obese Rats. Molecules. Oct 25 2016;21(11)doi:10.3390/molecules21111424
- Song J, Kim D-Y, Lee HS, Rhee SY, Lim H. Efficacy of Crataegus Extract Mixture on Body Fat and Lipid Profiles in Overweight Adults: A 12-Week, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2024;16(4):494.
