Research sheds new light on the effectiveness of supplements for weight loss prevention

An ingredient that can be added to food to make it more filling may be less effective at preventing weight gain in young people, but could help them build more muscle, new research shows.

In a new paper published in eClinical MedicineResearchers from British universities report the results of a randomized trial that builds on previous tests of the effectiveness of a compound called inulin propionate ester, or IPE, to promote weight loss and suppress appetite.

IPE contains propionate, a short-chain fatty acid produced in the human body when dietary fiber is fermented by intestinal microbes. When propionate is introduced into the body in larger quantities than could be ingested through a normal diet in the form of IPE, it stimulates the intestines to release hormones that can influence the brain to reduce feelings of hunger.

Previous research from the same team found that older participants with an average age of 54 years who took IPE supplements actually lost weight, had lower fat mass and less intra-abdominal fat, and found energy-dense foods less appealing than those who took a control drug , called inulin, a type of fiber.

The results of the study are part of a broader study called iPREVENT. The new research, which is longer term than previous studies, shows some differences in the way younger people’s bodies responded to IPE supplements.

Over the course of the 12-month study, 270 participants in Glasgow and London, aged between 20 and 40, were divided into groups consuming IPE or inulin.

The study found no significant difference in weight gain between the IPE and control groups over the course of the study. The IPE group saw no reduction in fat mass or body weight, and blood glucose levels also increased marginally in the IPE group, albeit within normal limits.

However, the researchers found a significant increase in lean body mass in the participants who received IPE, which was not due to a change in physical activity in either group.

Professor Douglas Morrison from the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Center (SUERC) and the University of Glasgow is one of the corresponding authors of the paper. He said: “Preventing weight gain early in life can provide significant health benefits later in life. It is better to maintain a healthy weight throughout life than to try to lose weight as an older adult, although achieving a healthy weight at any age is beneficial.

“Our previous studies had shown that older people could benefit significantly from adding IPE supplements to their diet, and we were keen to investigate in this study whether the results would be similar in younger people. Increasing lean body mass is an interesting and unexpected result that could warrant further research, as building muscle may help improve metabolic health.”

The researchers note in the paper that the results may have been influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, which occurred during the study and may have affected the diet and lifestyle of the participants. They also highlight the possibility that the dose of IPE, which produced beneficial effects in older people, may not have had the same effect on the metabolism of the younger participants.

Professor Gary Frost from Imperial College London, the lead researcher in London, said: “These findings highlight the complexity of weight gain prevention, especially in younger adults, where behavior and energy intake differ from older populations. Although IPE demonstrated benefits for body composition, its impact on overall weight management appears limited, which warrants further research into age-specific interventions for obesity prevention.”