The effect of a herbal formulation on human resting metabolic rate and body composition in overweight and obese individuals

M.Tech. (Homoeopathy)It is estimated that more than 29% of South African men and 56% of women are overweight or obese (Goedecke et al., 2005). Obesity can be classified as a chronic disease, with a number of detrimental health consequences, including the risk of developing insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia and hypertension (Beers et al., 2006). Conventional treatments for weight loss exist, but their use may be associated with unwanted side effects (Beers et al., 1999). While herbal medications are considered safer by many people, in general, studies of herbal medicinal products have been too few, of limited duration and small sample size (Mattsson and Nilsson, 2002). This indicates that further research into herbal weight loss treatments, with minimal or no side-effects, is required. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of a herbal formulation consisting of caffeine, Camellia sinensis, Coffea canephora bean, Coleus forskholii, Evodiamine, Ilex paraguariensis and Phaseolus vulgaris on human resting metabolic rate and body composition in overweight and obese individuals. The study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled study and formed part of a larger study where the research sample was shared by two additional researchers. A sample group of sixty healthy male and female participants between the ages of 18 and 45 years, with a body mass index of more than 25kg/m² and less than 35 kg/m², was recruited from the University of Johannesburg Doornfontein Campus Homoeopathic Health Clinic. Participants were randomly allocated into either an experimental or placebo group, in matched pairs according to gender and BMI. Both groups underwent an assessment of body composition and resting metabolic rate at the initial consultation, as well as at the two week, six week, and final twelve week follow-up consultations. Participant checklists recorded data documenting changes in general lifestyle factors for the duration of the study (Appendix E). The experimental group took two capsules of the herbal formulation daily and the control group took two capsules of the placebo, five days a week with a two day rest, for a period of twelve weeks. Data was collected and statistically analyzed using the Shapiro Wilk test, the Mann-Whitney test, the Friedman test, and the Wilcoxon signed ranks test (Smith, 2011)