STENDEC

Biomed Pharmacother 2020 Jul;127:110137. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110137. Epub 2020 Apr 27. The effect of Berberine on weight loss in order to prevent obesity: A systematic review Zahra Ilyas 1, Simone Perna 1, Salwa Al-Thawadi 1, Tariq A Alalwan 1, Antonella Riva 2, Giovanna Petrangolini 2, Clara Gasparri 3, Vittoria Infantino 4, Gabriella Peroni 5, Mariangela Rondanelli 6 This study provides a critical overview of experimental studies in vitro, in humans, and in animals that evaluated the efficacy of Berberine and its effect on management of obesity and the related metabolic consequences. As a result of this review, we summarized the effects of Berberine in different models and the related mechanism of actions. In preclinical models, Berberine demonstrates that it affects gut microbiota by reducing diversity of microbes starting at a dosage of 100 mg/kg/day. Moreover, in animal models, Berberine explicates an action on glucose through the inhibition of α-glycosidase at a dose of 200 mh/kg/day. Berberine is also known to be effective against differentiation of adipocytes through a decrease in LXRs, PPARs, and SREBPs expression at 150 mg/kg/day. Other mechanism ascribed to Berberine are related to its inhibition of hepatic gluconeogenesis through the Phospheoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), Glucose-6-phosphate (G6Pase) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Furthermore, Berberine (associated to Red Yeast Rice) is effective in decreasing lipid levels in rats, which consequently lowers the change of weight gain at dosage of 40 mg/kg to 380 mg/kg/day. All the above preclinical data are confirmed in human studies where Berberine can modulate the diversity of gut microbes at the dose of 500 mg/day. In addition, Berberine is found to have a beneficial impact on gene regulation for the absorption of cholesterol at a daily dose of 300 mg in humans, an amelioration on glucose accumulation at 1.0 g daily dose was also observed. For all these reasons, this review gives an important good account of the impact of Berberine in obesity treatment and prevention. PMID: 32353823 FFT

Seems very similar to metformin in many respects.

Have you ever played around with berberine?

Confirms mild weight/fat loss found in earlier studies. Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2018 Apr;37(2):419-428. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2017.06.002. Epub 2017 Jun 8. Alpha-lipoic acid supplement in obesity treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials Nazli Namazi 1, Bagher Larijani 2, Leila Azadbakht 3 Previous studies have supported positive roles of antioxidant supplements on weight-loss. One antioxidant supplement is Alpha-lipoic acid. However, recommending ALA as an anti-obesity supplement remains controversial. Accordingly, the purpose of the present study was to perform a meta-analysis on the effects of ALA supplement on anthropometric indices among adult subjects. We searched five electronic databases till September 2016. Placebo-controlled clinical trials were included. Weighted Mean Difference (WMD) was pooled using a random-effects model. Findings of 12 included trials indicated that ALA supplement reduced body weight (WMD: -0.69 kg; 95% CI: -1.27, -0.10; I2 = 0%) and BMI (WMD: -0.38 kg/m2; 95% CI: -0.53, -0.24; I2 = 0%) significantly compared to the placebo group. However, its effects on Waist Circumference (WC) was not significant (WMD: -0.30 cm; 95% CI: -1.18, 0.58; I2 = 17.8%). Stratification by health status indicated that ALA decreased WC in unhealthy subjects (WMD: -2.00 cm; 95% CI: -4.19, 0.19; I2 = 1.3%) more than healthy individuals (0.03 cm; 95% CI: -0.69, 0.75; I2 = 0%). Conclusions: The present study revealed that supplementation with ALA slightly but significantly decreased body weight and BMI. Safe dosage for ALA is up to 1200 mg/day. However, it seems that ALA cannot be cost-effective. Further studies are needed to clarify the effects of ALA on metabolic parameter in unhealthy obese individuals. PMID: 28629898

Almost a 10% change in BF percentage after 24 weeks is not bad. A Randomized Controlled Trial of Long-Term (R)-α-Lipoic Acid Supplementation Promotes Weight Loss in Overweight or Obese Adults without Altering Baseline Elevated Plasma Triglyceride Concentrations Gerd Bobe, Alexander J Michels, Wei-Jian Zhang, Jonathan Q Purnell, Clive Woffendin, Cliff Pereira, Joseph A Vita, Nicholas O Thomas, Maret G Traber, Balz Frei ... Show more The Journal of Nutrition, 21 July 2020 α-Lipoic acid (LA) is a dietary supplement for maintaining energy balance, but well-controlled clinical trials in otherwise healthy, overweight adults using LA supplementation are lacking. The primary objective was to evaluate whether LA supplementation decreases elevated plasma triglycerides in overweight or obese adults. Secondary aims examined if LA promotes weight loss and improves oxidative stress and inflammation. Overweight adults [n = 81; 57% women; 21–60 y old; BMI (in kg/m2) ≥ 25] with elevated plasma triglycerides ≥100 mg/dL were enrolled in a 24-wk, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial, assigned to either (R)-α-lipoic acid (R-LA; 600 mg/d) or matching placebo, and advised not to change their diet or physical activity. Linear models were used to evaluate treatment effects from baseline for primary and secondary endpoints. R-LA did not decrease triglyceride concentrations, but individuals on R-LA had a greater reduction in BMI at 24 wk than the placebo group (−0.8; P = 0.04). The effect of R-LA on BMI was correlated to changes in plasma triglycerides (r = +0.50, P = 0.004). Improvement in body weight was greater at 24 wk in R-LA subgroups than in placebo subgroups. Women and obese participants (BMI ≥ 35) showed greater weight loss (−5.0% and −4.8%, respectively; both P < 0.001) and loss of body fat (−9.4% and −8.6%, respectively; both P < 0.005). Antioxidant gene expression in mononuclear cells at 24 wk was greater in the R-LA group (Heme oxygenase 1 [HMOX1] : +22%; P = 0.02) than in placebo. Less urinary F2-isoprostanes (−25%; P = 0.005), blood leukocytes (−10.1%; P = 0.01), blood thrombocytes (−5.1%; P = 0.03), and ICAM-1 (−7.4%; P = 0.04) at 24 wk were also observed in the R-LA group than in placebo. Long-term LA supplementation results in BMI loss, greater antioxidant enzyme synthesis, and less potential for inflammation in overweight adults. Improved cellular bioenergetics is also evident in some individuals given R-LA.

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This stuff is even better in the taste department. https://www.amazon.com/INFUSIONS-Refreshingly-Flavored-Vigorously-Lemonade/dp/B07F4K1XF3

I was listening to a discussion the other day by a couple of epidemiologists who were talking about mask effectiveness and how there appeared to be a disconnect between the physics of "droplet science" and the real-world impact of mask use in the prevention of infectious disease. As this paper, and others have demonstrated, there is clearly a reduction in respiratory droplet expression when you put just about any material in front of someone's face so why masks, specifically cloth masks, appear to be so generally ineffective when it comes to actual infection control is a mystery.

I'm in but can it wait until this COVID thing is over and we can have this discussion over some Knob Creek and a campfire?

I get them at Sam's Club and there has never been an issue....the Premier Protein clear RTD are the ones that are suddenly hard to come by.

Not really related to mortality but we don't have an all-purpose vitamin D thread. "Our study suggests that for people with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, taking a supplement of vitamin D and calcium is a simple, low-risk way to prevent vertigo from recurring," said Ji-Soo Kim, M.D., Ph.D., of Seoul National University College of Medicine in Korea. "It is especially effective if you have low vitamin D levels to begin with." Article

IME, if you do this for a month or so, you will feel perfectly comfortable without the belt and after another month, you will not put it back on.

Have not purchased protein powder in a while...been using Fairlife RTD shakes and was also using Premier Protein Clear Orange Mango RTD in the mornings. Those were getting hard to find so I decided to switch to a powder but wanted something that wasn't "milky" Dymatize Hydrolyzed Clear protein powder in pineapple-orange flavor from Amazon....stuff is really amazing. I purchased a glass shaker bottle with a silicone mix ball and I put that in the fridge full of 14oz of water before bed. When I wake up, I drop in a scoop of the powder, shake vigorously for about 30s and then let it sit for about a minute and it completely clears up, no chunks, unmixed powder etc. and the taste is amazing. Very natural tasting, no weird aftertaste, not too sweet. Today I mixed in a gram of K citrate and while it prevented the mix from becoming water clear, it added a nice tartness to the flavor that was very welcome.

I just found a bottle of this in my cupboard....now if I could only recall why I was taking it....

How do you take this?