The effect of methyl donor supplementation on body composition, homocysteine, lipid profile and appetite regulatory hormones in overweight and obese adults: a randomized placebo-controlled trial
ISSN: 0034-6659
Article publication date: 27 June 2022
Issue publication date: 7 February 2023
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of methyl donor supplementation on anthropometric indices, body composition, glycemic control, lipid profile, homocysteine and appetite regulatory hormones in overweight and obese subjects.
Design/methodology/approach
This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted on overweight and obese subjects in Shiraz, Iran, in 2018. The 25 participants in each intervention and control group were required to take methyl donor supplement and placebo, respectively, for eight weeks. A variety of measurements was collected at baseline and the end of the study. The data were analyzed using SPSS 21 software.
Findings
The results indicated a significant reduction in weight, body mass index, body fat and waist and hip circumference (p < 0.001 for all parameters) within both groups and a significant improvement in skeletal muscle (p = 0.005), fat-free mass (p = 0.006), visceral fat area (p < 0.001) and body cell mass (p = 0.004) in the intervention group. Also, the results showed a significant difference between the two groups regarding serum homocysteine concentration at the end of the intervention (p < 0.001).
Originality/value
The results demonstrated that methyl donor supplementation might have effects on the improvement of anthropometric indices, body composition, glycemic and lipid profile status and appetite regulatory hormones among obese and overweight individuals. These effects might be attributed to their roles in energy metabolism, protein synthesis and epigenetics regulation.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The present study was entirely funded by the Vice-Chancellor for Research Affairs of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (Project No.15721). Hereby, the authors would like to express their gratitude to Boghrat laboratory, the research laboratory of the School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Karen Pharma and Zahravi Pharmaceutical Company and all participants for their cooperation. They would also like to appreciate Ms. A. Keivanshekouh at the Research Improvement Center of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences for improving the use of English in the manuscript.
Citation
Ranjbar Zahedani, M., Eftekhari, M.H., Nouri, M., Alipour, S., Hassanzadeh, J. and Fardaei, M. (2023), "The effect of methyl donor supplementation on body composition, homocysteine, lipid profile and appetite regulatory hormones in overweight and obese adults: a randomized placebo-controlled trial", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 53 No. 2, pp. 445-458. https://doi.org/10.1108/NFS-12-2021-0382
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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