Date of Award

Spring 5-11-2012

Degree Type

Honors College Thesis

Department

Human Performance and Recreation

First Advisor

Geoffrey Hudson

Second Advisor

Michael Webster

Advisor Department

Human Performance and Recreation

Abstract

XanthigenTM [100 mg brown seaweed extract (0.8 % fucoxanthin) and 100 mg pomegranate seed oil (70 % punicic acid)] has been shown to significantly reduce body fat, liver fat, and improve serum markers of liver function in obese females. Twenty-nine participants were matched for age, gender, and body fat percentage and randomized into either a XanthigenTM group or a placebo group. For 16-weeks, participants were asked to consume a reduced calorie diet while supplementing their diet with their respective pills three times per day. Data were analyzed using multivariate ANOVA with repeated measures and presented as mean ± standard deviation. While most participants saw weight loss, body fat percentage did not significantly change, indicating that weight loss was from both fat mass and lean mass. Significant changes were seen in serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT), total protein, and albumin. The changes in both the placebo and Xanthigen groups were similar, however. No significant changes were seen in other serum markers, but there was a trend for a reduction in triglycerides with a statistical trend for a greater decrease in the Xanthigen group. While both placebo and Xanthigen groups experienced weight loss and reduced liver enzyme levels, the Xanthigen supplementation did not produce significant results.

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