Product Reviews

Proactol and Weight Loss: What the Science Says

The number of people suffering from obesity is increasing at an alarming rate worldwide, and increasing with it is the prevalence of serious health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and stroke. Obesity, caused by an imbalance between the energy a person consumes and the energy that person expends, is often treated through changes in diet, exercise programs, medications, or surgical procedures. These conventional approaches to obesity treatment can be successful in helping people lose weight, but they are not always effective or appropriate for everyone.

A longstanding approach to obesity treatment is to reduce calorie intake while increasing energy expenditure—in other words, structured diet and exercise. When adhered to, diet and exercise programs are effective means of weight loss and have important health benefits. Unfortunately, obesity treatments based only on dietary restrictions and physical activity often fail due to failure to adhere to the program.

Medications, or pharmacological therapy, are another common treatment approach. Prescription drugs such as sibutramine, orlistat and phentermine can assist with weight loss and are often effective at first. However, pharmacological treatment often results in rebound weight gain and medication side effects, and has the potential to lead to drug misuse.

Surgical options are often considered as a treatment for obesity, but not every obese person is a good candidate. Surgical intervention permanently changes a person’s ability to digest food and carries the risks associated with any type of surgery.

Herbal medicine is becoming increasingly attractive to people who find that conventional medical options do not treat their obesity effectively and without undesirable side effects. The natural anti-obesity properties of certain plants are becoming more well-known, and many people are looking to them as an alternative to chemically-derived pharmacological substances.

Proactol – A Plant-Derived Medicinal Product

Opuntia ficus indica—more commonly known as the prickly pear cactus—has long been appreciated for its sweet fruits (tunas) and edible leaves, which have found uses in the medicinal and cosmetic industries [1]. More recently it has gained attention as the source of a revolutionary fiber complex sold as the commercially available diet pill Proactol. The medicinal herb that is the basis for Proactol is made from the Opuntia ficus indica’s dehydrated leaves and has been patented as NeOpuntia.

Studies have found that animals who ingested the leaves of the prickly pear cactus—either fresh or dehydrated—had levels of LDL (the bad cholesterol) that were lowered by 34% without change to HDL levels (the good cholesterol) [2]. NeOpuntia, made from these dehydrated leaves, aids weight loss by binding lipids and preventing their absorption in the intestine. This means that the calories in food that come from fat are absorbed at a lower proportion to the food’s other energy sources.

InQpharm and other independent laboratories have conducted tests of NeOpuntia’s fat-binding capacity. That the safety and efficacy of NeOpuntia has been demonstrated in clinical trials makes it unique among diet supplements.

Study 1. A Gastrointestinal Model Demonstrates the Fat-Binding Properties of Proactol

At the initial patenting of NeOpuntia—the basis of the diet drug Proactol—the hypothesis was that it binds ingested lipids and prevents them from being absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract as they would normally be when the chewed food passes through.

How are lipids normally absorbed by the human gastrointestinal tract? In order for the human body to absorb nutrients, they must be in a water-soluble form. While proteins and carbohydrates are water-soluble, fat (lipids) is not. Fat molecules are prepared for absorption by bile salts, which are released from the gallbladder after a meal. These salts convert fat molecules into micelles, which are water-soluble. A micelle is essentially a spherical arrangement of water-soluble bile salts which surround the water-insoluble fat molecules. This enclosure of lipids by bile salts is known as emulsification of lipids. The micelles, which are dispersed in water, can be easily absorbed by the intestinal wall. The hypothesis of NeOpuntia’s mechanism of action was that it binds the fat molecules and thus prevents emulsification.

To test this hypothesis, researchers turned to a TNO-intestinal model, a device that accurately mimics the human digestive process. The material to be digested in this study was a typical American breakfast. When the breakfast alone was placed in the TNO model and allowed to digest for 4 hours, the lipids contained in the breakfast foods were absorbed through the formation of micelles. In contrast, the addition of 2 grams of NeOpuntia resulted in the prevention of 23% of the breakfast’s lipids from being absorbed.

Study 2: Proactol Increases Fat Excretion in Humans

A human study of NeOpuntia’s fat-binding capacity has also been conducted. In this study, 10 healthy volunteers were examined in order to determine how NeOpuntia affects the process of meal digestion in humans. The researchers hypothesized that if the patented component of Proactol binds the fat molecules contained in a meal, those molecules would not be able to be absorbed by the small intestine. The unabsorbed molecules would then be excreted in feces, resulting in steatorrhea (excess fat in feces).

The 5 male and 5 female participants, with a BMI of 23.3 kg/m2, were placed randomly in one of two groups. In the NeOpuntia group, participants received 1.6 grams of NeOpuntia in capsule form, which they consumed with a meal rich in fat. Those in the placebo group received a 1.6 gram capsule of inactive material; they also consumed their capsule with a fat-rich meal. All participants followed a standardized diet containing the same amount of fat in order to ensure that there were no dietary differences in lipid intake between the two groups.

Participants in the NeOpuntia group had an average increase of 27.4% in the amount of fat excreted in their feces, suggesting that NeOpuntia does bind lipids and prevent their absorption in the human gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, none of the participants in the NeOpuntia group experienced any adverse side effects.

Study 3: Proactol Does Not Affect Vitamin Levels

The reason fat-blockers can be such a great tool in fighting obesity is that they prevent the absorption of the most calorie-dense nutrient, which is lipids. Compared to an equivalent amount of protein and carbohydrates, fat has more than twice as many calories. However, lipids serve an important purpose in the human body: they are required in order for the body to absorb the fat-soluble vitamins A and E. Because vitamins A and E are absorbed along with fat in the small intestine, blocking fat absorption can also block vitamin absorption and increase the risk of experiencing vitamin deficiency. The popular fat-blocker Alli, sold over the counter, is an illustration of this as it reduces absorption of vitamin E by 60%.

To see whether NeOpuntia presented similar risks of vitamin deficiency, an experiment was performed using a TNO-intestinal model of the human gastrointestinal tract. NeOpuntia was added to a sunflower oil mixture that contained a typical daily intake of vitamins A and E. Placed in the TNO model, the mixture was subjected to a simulation of the conditions found in the human digestive tract. Despite its potent fat-blocking capacity, NeOpuntia didn’t not affect the levels of fat-soluble vitamins, demonstrating that the patented fiber complex doesn’t interfere with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins A and E.

Study 4. Proactol Has Both Weight Loss and Satiety Effects

A study of the effect of NeOpuntia on human body weight and appetite was conducted in Berlin, Germany. Two groups of Caucasian participants were randomly created, with one group receiving NeOpuntia and the other receiving a placebo. All participants followed a structured diet plan of 2500 calories per day in order to limit the effect of variations in food intake.

In those participants who consumed NeOpuntia—Proactol’s patented ingredient—for 3 days, average body weight was reduced by a significant 0.72kg (1.7lbs). As expected, there was a corresponding increase in the excretion of fecal fat, something that had been observed in other studies on NeOpuntia. While the members of the placebo group did not report feelings of suppressed appetite, 80% of the participants in the NeOpuntia group reported feeling moderately to strongly satiated. The NeOpuntia group achieved these positive results with very good tolerance for the patented fiber complex

Study 5. NeOpuntia Protects Against Metabolic Syndrome

The increasing numbers of obese people are making conditions like Metabolic Syndrome a significant worry in the medical community. Metabolic Syndrome, as defined by The International Diabetes Federation, is a cluster of risk factors that include elevated fasting glucose, waist circumference greater than 80cm (abdominal obesity), high blood pressure and triglycerides, and lower than normal HDL (the good cholesterol).

A rigorous research study in 2007 looked at the patented fiber complex NeOpuntia, testing to see whether it can decrease risk factors for Metabolic Syndrome. The double-blind placebo-controlled study consisted of 68 women who were placed in one of two groups: a NeOpuntia group or a placebo group.

Women in the NeOpuntia group took a capsule containing 1.6 grams of NeOpuntia every day half an hour after each of their three meals. Those in the placebo group took an inactive capsule after each meal. In order to control for dietary and lifestyle differences, all women adhered to a balanced diet of 2000 calories and participated in at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. LDL, HDL, total cholesterol and triglycerides were measured in the women after 42 days.

A look at the placebo group showed that the bad cholesterol, LDL, had decreased during the study. This was attributed to the balanced diet and exercise that were prescribed as part of the study. Yet, the placebo group also saw a decrease in the good cholesterol, HDL. Ninety-two percent of the women in the placebo group still had the symptoms of Metabolic Syndrome when the end of the study was reached.

Testing of women in the NeOpuntia group showed that their HDL levels actually increased by a significant amount, unlike those in the placebo group. This is particularly noteworthy because high HDL levels are associated with lower cardiovascular risk. Other test results in the NeOpuntia group were similarly positive, with improvement found in triglycerides, blood pressure, and waist circumference. At the conclusion of the study, only 61% of women in the NeOpuntia group were still suffering from Metabolic Syndrome.

Additional details about how NeOpuntia protects against Metabolic Syndrome have yet to be discovered. One possibility is that the high fiber content of the prickly pear cactus’ leaves and antioxidant components like carotenoids and lutein may be responsible [4].

Closing Thoughts
Proactol’s basis, the patented fiber complex derived from the Opuntia ficus indica cactus, has been shown in scientific studies to have lipophilic properties that make it an effective weight loss tool. With its safety and efficacy backed by strong scientific research, Proactol is a revolutionary addition to the world of natural weight loss products.

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About The Author
Matthew Denou, PhD, is closely following the ongoing research in obesity treatments and healthy weight loss diets. Research shows that few weight loss programs can claim the scientific scrutiny of Proactol. Matthew’s site can be visited at promotion coupon for medifast coupon code for nutrisystem bistromd discount

References
1. Stintzing FC, Carle R. Cactus stems (Opuntia spp.): a review on their chemistry, technology, and uses. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2005;49:175-194.
2. Cárdenas Medellin ML, Serna Saldívar SO, Velazco de la Garza J. Effect of raw and cooked nopal (Opuntia ficus indica) ingestion on growth and profile of total cholesterol, lipoproteins, and blood glucose in rats [in Spanish]. Arch Latinoam Nutr. 1998;48:316-323.
3. Wolfram RM, Kritz H, Efthimiou Y, Stamotopoulos J, Sinzinger H. Effect of prickly pear (Opuntia robusta) on glucose- and lipid-metabolism in non-diabetics with hyperlipidemia — A pilot study. Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2002;114:840-846.
4. Jaramillo-Flores ME, González-Cruz L, Cornejo-Mazón M, Dorantes-Alvarez L, Gutiérrez- López GF, Hernández-Sánchez H. Effect of thermal treatment on the antoxidant activity and content of carotenoids and phenolic compounds of cactus pear cladodes (Opuntia ficus-indica). Food Sci Technol Int. 2003;9:271-278.