Published in the journal Foods, the study included overweight and obese type I individuals who took Spain-based Euromed’s perFix branded persimmon extract, which is obtained using ultra-purified water as the sole solvent.
“The decreases in fat mass and trunk fat mass, evaluated by DEXA, with statistically significant differences as compared with the placebo group were remarkable,” wrote researchers from UCAM Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia. “It should be noted that decreases in fat mass were already recorded at the mid-study visit at about 60 days after starting the use of the investigational product.”
Translating pre-clinical results to humans
Persimmon extract contains bioactive components including polyphenols (like tannins), carotenoids and flavonoids and has been shown to have a lipid-lowering effect.
“In relation to the lipid-lowering effect, persimmon leaves have been reported to improve lipid profiles and suppress body weight gain,” the researchers wrote.
In a previous study, mice fed a high-fat diet along with fermented persimmon extract had a 15% reduction in body weight.
However, the weight-loss effects of persimmon extract in humans have not been assessed in a clinical setting.
“By focusing on overweight subjects, we aim to provide insights into early-stage interventions that may prevent the transition to obesity and its associated health risks,” the authors wrote.
Study details
Seventy adults with BMI between 25 and 34.99 were randomly assigned to receive either 400 mg of persimmon extract or placebo for 120 days.
For overweight participants in the persimmon extract group, the researchers recorded a significant reduction in fat mass with no significant reduction in lean mass, implying muscle mass was maintained.
“In overweight subjects, the experimental group demonstrated significant reductions in body weight, BMI, waist circumference and abdominal circumference compared to both the baseline and placebo,” the authors wrote. “In the overall study population, there was a significant decrease in body weight in the experimental group as compared with the placebo “
Participant questionnaires also showed overall higher scores for mental health for the extract group.
On the other hand, no changes in the anti-inflammatory profiles or biochemical lipid glycemic profiles were observed, except for a decrease in tumor necrosis factor alpha and an increase in total antioxidant capacity for the extract group.
Lastly, an increase in fetal fat excretion was found in the experimental group for participants who had lower fecal fat levels before intervention.
“The properties of persimmon extract to support weight management, fat loss and body composition improvement, with evidence of safety and no adverse events, in humans is a relevant finding that should be evaluated in further studies with a larger sample size in order to validate the present results and enhance robustness of our data,” the researchers concluded.
Source: Foods, 13(24), 4072. doi: 10.3390/foods13244072. “Efficacy of a Dietary Supplement Extracted from Persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.f.) in Overweight Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Clinical Trial”. Authors: S. Pérez-Piñero, et al.