CONCLUSIONS In otherwise healthy overweight or obese adults , there is some evidence that in the short term GM may help to reduce BW , but not BMI .
OBJECTIVE Glucomannan ( GM ) , a soluble fiber derived from the plant Amorphophallus konjac , is marketed as being helpful in reducing body weight .
However , the data supporting this cl aim are scarce .
The aim of this review was to systematic ally evaluate the effects of GM on body weight ( BW ) and body mass index ( BMI ) in otherwise healthy obese or overweight children and adults .
Evaluation of the pharmacotherapeutic efficacy of Garcinia cambogia plus Amorphophallus konjac for the treatment of obesity.
Hydroxycitric acid ( HCA ) , the main compound of Garcinia cambogia extract , is a competitive blocker of ATP-citrate-lyase , presenting a potential inhibition of fatty acid bio synthesis . Glucomannan fibers , abundant in Amorphophallus konjac , seem to reduce the absorption kinetics of dietary fat . Therefore , the aim of this double-blind r and omized study was to evaluate the pharmacotherapeutic efficacy of st and ardized extracts of G. cambogia ( 52.4 % HCA ) plus A. konjac ( 94.9 % glucomannan ) in the treatment of obesity . Fifty-eight obese subjects ( BMI 30.0 - 39.9 kg/m(2 ) ) were assigned to the  placebo  group ( n = 26 ) or the treatment group ( n = 32 ) ; no dietary restrictions were applied . Over a 12-week period , subjects were given daily doses of either Garcinia ( 2.4 g ) plus Konjac ( 1.5 g ) or placebo prior to their main meals ( 3 times/day ) . Before the start of treatment , and every 4 weeks thereafter , the following were recorded : height , weight , circumferences and body composition , resting energy expenditure ( REE ) , lipid profile and glucose levels . The treatment had no significant effect on anthropometric parameters , REE , triglycerides or glucose levels . However , a significant reduction was observed in total cholesterol ( -32.0 + /- 35.1 mg/dL ) and LDL-c levels ( -28.7 + /- 32.7 mg/dL ) in the treated group , the final levels being significantly lower than those of the placebo group ( p = 0.008 and p = 0.020 , respectively ) . The results obtained suggest that the treatment had a significant hypocholesterolemic effect , without influencing the anthropometric or calorimetric parameters tested
CONCLUSIONS In otherwise healthy overweight or obese adults , there is some evidence that in the short term GM may help to reduce BW , but not BMI .
OBJECTIVE Glucomannan ( GM ) , a soluble fiber derived from the plant Amorphophallus konjac , is marketed as being helpful in reducing body weight .
However , the data supporting this cl aim are scarce .
The aim of this review was to systematic ally evaluate the effects of GM on body weight ( BW ) and body mass index ( BMI ) in otherwise healthy obese or overweight children and adults .