Conditions: Obesity Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 8
Healthy volunteers: yes

Brief summary:
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of a combination of hydroxcycitrate (HCA) and niacin-bound chromium, in conjunction with nutrition education, over a twelve week period. Participants will be evaluated with regard to BMI, percent body fat, insulin activity, and hunger.

Detailed description:
The prevalence of obesity among youth has increased dramatically in recent years. Parallel to the increased rates of pediatric obesity, overweight children present clinically with adiposity related comorbidities such as insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. The prevailing recommendations for overweight youth are to increase physical activity levels and limit energy intake in order to improve body composition. Currently there is little empirical evidence to support the efficacy of these recommendations. Alternatively, evidence in adults suggests that nutritional supplementation with (-) hydroxycitric acid (HCA), an organic acid found naturally in citrus fruits, and chromium may lead to favorable changes in body composition and improve glucose regulation. To date, these issues have not been tested in youth. Therefore, the purpose of the present investigation is to examine the effects of a nutritional education program combined with either HCA + chromium or placebo on measures of body composition and glucose regulation in overweight adolescents.

Arms:
arm 1: nutrition education plus active supplement arm 2: nutrition education plus inactive supplement

Interventions: intervention 1: nutrition education plus active supplement intervention 2: nutrition education plus inactive supplement
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: After all baseline measures have been completed, participants will be randomly assigned to either the nutrition education + supplement group, or the nutrition education + placebo group. The length of the intervention is twelve weeks. Nutrition classes will take place once a week for 1 1/2 hours. Subjects will be encouraged to increase fiber and decrease sugar intake. They will also be separated into gender-specific classes.

Active and inactive supplements will be identical in appearance and taste. Active supplements will contain 2,700 mgs/day of Super CitriMax (hydroxycitrate)and 400 µg per day of ChromeMate (niacin-bound Chromium). Supplements will be in powder and tablet form, and should be taken 30 minutes prior to each meal. intervention 2: After all baseline measures have been completed, participants will be randomly assigned to either the nutrition education + supplement group, or the nutrition education + placebo group. The length of the intervention is twelve weeks. Nutrition classes will take place once a week for 1 1/2 hours. Subjects will be encouraged to increase fiber and decrease sugar intake. They will also be separated into gender-specific classes.

Active and inactive supplements will be identical in appearance and taste.

Protocol document: