The weight loss supplement Xanthigen™ is a proprietary blend of pomegranate oil and brown seaweed standardized for “fucoxanthin”, a carotenoid present in seaweed and other marine vegetables.
For some time, retailers have been including fucoxanthin (on its own) in their products, asserting its powerful anti-obesity effects. Unfortunately, there are no human-based studies to validate this—only animal ones (see here and here!). There’s another problem too; the problem of low bioavailability of these compounds in humans. This study (see Br J Nutr. 2008 Aug;100(2):273-7) concluded…
“… results indicated that the plasma response to dietary epoxyxanthophylls was very low in humans even after 1-week intake of epoxyxanthophyll-rich diets.”
Like fucoxanthin, pomegranate oil too has been studied for its role in weight loss; but its effects have also only been demonstrated in animals (see J Agric Food Chem. 2007 May 2;55(9):3741-8. Epub 2007 Mar 30, Nutrition. 2006 Jan;22(1):54-9. Epub 2005 Oct 12, Lipids Health Dis. 2004 Nov 9;3:24)
If there’s a silver lining here, it’s that there has been a clinical study performed on the Xanthigen formula. It found the combination of the two ingredients raised REE (Resting Energy Expenditure) and concluded…
“Xanthigen promoted weight loss, reduced body and liver fat content, and improved liver function tests in obese non-diabetic women.”
Of course, if you read through the study abstract, any hopes of thinking you’ve just discovered the magic pill will be quickly dispelled. This is not one. In fact, the most anyone lost on this study was just over 15 lbs. in a 4-month period. That’s less than 1 pound per week.
That’s not to say it’s not helpful; it is, just not dramatically so. And remember… you can lose 1 pound per week (and more) on your own—simply by incorporating a smart diet and exercise into your everyday regimen.
