The Hidden Dangers of Belly Fat

Glabrinex™ Reduces Dangerous Abdominal Deposits

In recent years, obesity in industrialized countries has reached epidemic proportions. Obesity has increased across all age groups, educational levels and ethnic groups. Abdominal obesity in particular, and its related increase in visceral fat, is at an all-time high. Abdominal obesity is of particular concern because it is linked to metabolic syndrome, a condition where blood lipids, blood glucose and blood pressure are poorly controlled. Persons with metabolic syndrome are at greatly increased risk for more serious conditions such as coronary artery disease, heart attack, diabetes and stroke. In industrialized countries, 20-30% of the middle-aged population exhibits metabolic syndrome.

Abdominal fat is actually comprised of 2 metabolically distinct fat compartments. The fat that accumulates under the skin is called subcutaneous fat. Unsightly as it may be, this type of fat is relatively benign. The real perpetrator is dense visceral fat found deep in the abdomen, surrounding the intra-abdominal organs. Visceral fat is of particular concern because elevated levels of visceral fat are actually a cause of metabolic syndrome. Visceral fat cells are not just sedentary storage cells. They release inflammatory cytokines such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and Interleukin (IL)-6, which contribute to chronic systemic inflammation. Visceral fat also produces angiotensin, a chemical messenger that can elevate blood pressure by causing the constriction of blood vessels. Excess visceral fat is a significant factor in the development of metabolic syndrome. Even modest increases in visceral fat result in measurable endothelial dysfunction. Maintaining optimal body weight is therefore crucial to preventing the progression of metabolic syndrome. Aging, excessive calorie intake and sedentary lifestyle all contribute to weight gain and visceral fat accumulation. One of the favourable results of caloric restriction is the reduction of visceral fat. The good news is that even modest reductions in visceral fat can help reverse its adverse effects.

Glabrinex™ is an exciting new supplement that has demonstrated, in both animal and human published studies, the ability to inhibit the formation of body fat—especially visceral fat. Patent-pending Glabrinex™ contains a proprietary lipid-soluble extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra L root, standardized for bioactive polyphenol flavonoid compounds and the unique flavonoid glabridin. Glabrinex™ has been shown in clinical trials to reduce body weight, waist circumference and abdominal fat, and to help control blood glucose.

Nutrigenomic testing, animal studies and human clinical trials have demonstrated that Glabrinex™ is able to suppress visceral fat, thereby helping to eliminate a significant cause of metabolic syndrome. Glabrinex™ down-regulates the body’s fat-forming processes and up-regulates the activity of fat burning enzymes. Glabrinex™ reduces the weight gain produced by a high-fat diet and helps to control blood glucose.

Patent-pending Glabrinex™ contains a proprietary lipid-soluble extract of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L) root, standardized for bioactive polyphenol flavonoid compounds and the unique flavonoid glabridin. Human randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies with Glabrinex1-2 resulted in:

- Body and abdominal fat lowering effect in human subjects
- Suppression of body weight gain in human subjects
- Abdominal fat lowering effect in human subjects

Glabrinex™ is the first natural product of its kind that actually helps prevent or suppress the onset of metabolic syndrome. Previously reported studies indicate the active ingredient in Glabrinex™ also provides antioxidative protection, hypocholesterolemic activity, suppression of Heliobacter pylori (H. pylori), kidney protective and radical scavenging activities, and also inhibits serotonin reuptake.

Researchers conducted an 8-week, placebo-controlled study to test 300 mg, 600 mg, and 900 mg per day doses of Glabrinex™ in overweight subjects. In the 900 mg group, significant decreases from baseline were observed in body weight and body mass index after 4 to 8 weeks. Furthermore, there was a significant reduction in visceral fat after 8 weeks with the 900 mg dose. In all three dosage groups, significant decreases from baseline occurred in fat mass after 8 weeks. These same effects did not occur in the placebo group.

Another study included 103 healthy but moderately overweight subjects (63 men and 40 women) between 24 and 64 years of age. In the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, subjects were randomly divided into one of two groups. One group consumed one capsule of Glabrinex™ (300 mg) for 12 weeks, the other group consumed a placebo.

The results showed that the mean body weight in the placebo group gradually increased over time. In contrast, body weight in the Glabrinex™ group was significantly suppressed at weeks 4, 8 and 12.

In obese mice, Glabrinex™ reduced the weight of abdominal fat tissue and body weight gain. Examination revealed that fat cells shrank and the fatty degenerative state of liver cells improved in the animals given Glabrinex™.

In obese diabetic mice fed a high-fat diet, Glabrinex™ lowered both abdominal fat and blood sugar. This led the study authors to declare, “This result indicated that LFO [licorice flavonoid oil] was effective in preventing diabetes and obesity, particularly visceral fat accumulation. Licorice flavonoids may be useful for improving visceral fat obesity in preventing the metabolic syndrome including type 2 diabetes.”

Safety and Dosage
The root of the leguminous Glycyrrhiza plant, has been consumed for over 4,000 years since the era of ancient Egypt. It is among the botanicals most frequently employed in foods and traditional medicines in both Eastern and Western countries. To confirm the safety of Glabrinex™, a series of non-clinical studies as well as clinical studies were conducted. The results of these studies support the excellent safety profile of Glabrinex™. The active ingredient in Glabrinex has been accepted by the FDA as an approved new dietary ingredient. The recommended daily dose is 300 mg, taken once per day at the evening meal. An excessive ingestion study where subjects consumed 1,800 mg per day showed Glabrinex™ to be safe with few reported side effects.

Conclusion
Experts estimate that during the course of a typical holiday season, the average American may gain between 4 to 7 pounds. Glabrinex™ is not a conventional weight-loss remedy or quick-loss diet pill that promises massive weight loss in a short period of time. It provides a more realistically achievable and effective health improvement goal. Optimizing healthy visceral fat may result in the loss of only about 5-10% overall in weight but may have a more direct and significant health benefit.

In combination with an appropriate diet and moderate exercise, Glabrinex™ can help maintain optimal body weight and promote healthy fat metabolism, and play a significant role in the quest for healthy aging.

References
1. Tominaga Y, Mae T, Kitano M, Sakamoto Y, Ikematsu H, Nakagawa K. Licorice flavonoid oil effects body weight loss by reduction of body fat mass in overweight subjects. J Health Sci. 2006;52(6):672-683.
2. Aoki F, Nakagawa K, Kitano M, Ikematsu H, Nakamura K, Yokota S, Tominaga Y, Arai N, Mae T. Clinical safety of licorice flavonoid oil (LFO) and pharmacokinetics of glabridin in healthy humans. J Am Coll Nutr. 2007 Jun;26(3):209-18.
3. Nakagawa K, Kishida H, Arai N, Nishiyama T, Mae T. Licorice flavonoids suppress abdominal fat accumulation and increase in blood glucose level in obese diabetic KK-A(y) mice. Biol Pharm Bull. 2004 Nov;27(11):1775-8.
4. Aoki F, HondaS, Kishida H, Kitano M, Arai N, Tanaka H, Yokota S, Nakagawa K, Asakura T, Nakai Y, Mae T. Suppression by licorice flavonoids of abdominal fat accumulation and body weight gain in high-fat diet-induced obese C57BL/6J mice. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2007 Jan;71(1):206-14.
Article extracted from VRP website

*As per US federal guidelines, we need to inform you that these statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.