Garcinia Mangostana Extracts in the Management of Weight Loss

Obesity is one of the greatest public health challenges of the 21st century. Its prevalence has tripled in many countries of the European Region since the 1980s, and the numbers of those affected continue to rise at an alarming rate. In addition to causing various physical disabilities and psychological problems, excess weight drastically increases a person's risk of developing a number of noncommunicable diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes, in association or not to metabolic syndrome. The risk of developing more than one of these diseases (co-morbidity) also increases with increasing body weight. Every year a growing number of patient tend to suffer of more severe obesity and difficulty in losing weight even with a restricted diet and exercise. Garcinia mangostana (Sphaeranthus indicus extract) has known for its antioxidant properties; new evidence point out some promising effects in the prevention of lipogenesis and the promotion of lipolysis . Currently in the scientific literature there is only one paper, by Stern et al., showing the association of Garcinia mangostana assumption in low-calorie diet. This work has demonstrated a significant reduction in weight loss , compared to the placebo group,due to the use of Garcinia mangostana. Aim of the present study is the evaluation of safety and efficacy of weight loss in severe obese patients. Also cardiometabolic parameters and flogosys serum indicators will be evaluated before and after 6 month therapy of low calory diet alone or in association with Garcinia mangostana extract.