Effect of Sea Grapes-antioxidants Extract in Obese Men : 4 Weeks Randomized-Double Blind Controlled Trial

The study was a 4-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial followed by a 1-week screening period. Participants who respond to the invitation and meet the entry criteria during the telephone screening interview are scheduled for the initial visit. Evaluation during the initial visit includes physical examination in the form of BMI (Body Mass Index) based on Asia-Pacific guidelines and blood parameter screening tests in the form of blood glucose, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol, and PGC-1α were performed on all participants within 1 week of the initial screening. A random number between 1 and 70 was generated for each subject and registered participants were scheduled for their first visit and randomly assigned to the sea grape extract group (n=35) or placebo (n=35). Sea grape extract/placebo tablets/capsules were given to participants every 1 week (1 day of consumption per oral) 15 Minutes before eating (According to the diabetes drug guidline consumtion).

During the 4-week intervention period, participants were asked to continue their usual diet and not to consume functional foods or other dietary supplements. Anthropometry (BMI), Waist Hip Ratio (WHR) , blood parameters, urine profile (Marker of toxicity), and nutrient intake of both groups were measured before and after the intervention period. During the trial phase, all participants were instructed to maintain their normal diet and physical activity. Each week participants were asked to report assessments of side effects or changes in training, lifestyle, or diet; and to evaluate tablet compliance.

Subjects/Participants The study participants were recruited during 2021 at Manado, Republic of Indonesia. A total of 150 participants agreed to participate in the study. Only individuals men who are obese (BMI ≥ 25 kg m-2 and Waist Hip Ratio (WHR) ≥ 0.90) according to Asia-Pacific guidelines and have not been diagnosed with other diseases were included in the study. To meet guidelines for evaluating the efficacy of functional food referring to the Korea Food and Drug Administration (because Indonesia does not yet exist and Koreas belong to one Asian region so used), very obese participants (BMI ≥ 30 kg m-2) were not included in the study.

In total, 70 participants met the research criteria (age 29.98 ± 3.26 year; weight, ..... ± .... kg; BMI, .... ±.... kg m-2) and were randomly divided into two groups (n = 35 each) given sea grape extract 1.68 g/70kg BB day-1) or placebo (1.68 g/70kg BB day-1). The exclusion criteria for this study are as follows: (a) significant weight variation (over 10%) in the last 3 months; (b) a history of cardiovascular disease including arrhythmia, heart failure, or myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus (DM) and the use of pacemakers; (c) a history of conditions that may interfere with test products or inhibit their absorption such as gastrointestinal diseases (Crohn's disease) or surgeries that have been experienced (caesarean section or enterocele); (d) participation in other clinical trials in the last 2 months; (e) abnormal liver function; (f) a history of kidney disease (eg, acute or chronic renal failure and nephrtic syndrome); (g) undergo antipsychotic drug therapy within the last 2 months; (h) laboratory test results as well as medical or psychological conditions that may interfere with successful participation in research assessed by researchers; (i) a history of alcohol or substance abuse; and (j) allergy or hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients in the test product; (k) is neither a passive nor an active smoker. All participants give written consent before the investigation begins. The research protocol was submitted to the Health Research Ethics Commission (KEPK) of The General Hospital of Education Prof. Dr. RD. Kandou (Manado, Republic of Indonesia) online at http://sim-epk.keppkn.kemkes.go.id. All protocols referred to The Declaration of Helsinki and The Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (CIOMS).

Measurement of Efficacy Results A total of 70 participants who met the research criteria were asked to visit the clinic once every 1 week (0th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th/last week of the study period) with a total of 5 clinical visits including initial examination. During each visit, the use of the supplement is currently reviewed and symptoms or side effects are noted. During screening visits, demographic and lifestyle information is collected (age, alcohol consumption, and smoking habits). Medical history is taken and urine turbidity tests are carried out.

The following parameters are assessed; Weight, Height, WHR and BMI during each visit. Blood samples were collected after a minimum of 12 hours of fasting during initial screening as well as in the 0, 2nd and 4th weeks of the intervention period to obtain blood glucose profiles, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and PGC-1α. Blood samples were taken from the arm vein. The arm vein to be punctured is cleaned with 70% alcohol and allowed to dry. A tourniquet is placed on the upper arm to expose and slightly accentuate the veins. The skin is stretched over the vein with the fingers of the left hand so that the vein cannot move. The skin is pierced with a needle and syringe with the right hand until the tip of the needle enters the lumen of the vein. The tourniquet is removed and slowly withdraw the syringe suction until the desired amount of blood is obtained. A 70% alcohol swab is placed over the needle and the syringe and needle are removed. The needle is removed from the syringe and the blood sample is transferred into a vacutainer tube.

Evaluation of Safety and Diet

The safety of the extract is assessed by the following procedure. Urine Test Strips 10 Verify Parameters, Parameters examined are:

• Glucose (50 -100 mg / dl)
• Protein (7.5 - 15 mg / dl)
• pH (5-9)
• Leukocytes (9-15 leu / ul)
• Nitrite (0.05-0.1 mg/ dl)
• Urobilinogen (0.2-1.0 mg / dl)
• Blood (5-10 Ery/ul)
• Ketones (2.5-5 mg/dl)
• Bilirubin (0.4-1.0 mg/ dl)
• Specific Gravity (SG) (1,000-1,030) Test the urine parameters above using Urinalysis 10U Reagent Strips Verify (REF U031-102 exp. 2022-03-05). Pulse rate and blood pressure are measured on each visit after a 5-minute break using intelliVue MP70 (Philips, Netherlands). Personal reports are also recorded at these times. We kept the subjects maintaining their usual diet and activity, and all participants completed diet records on each visit to the clinic during the intervention period to evaluate their energy intake and diet quality. Food intake data were analyzed by a nutritionist (Melvin Junior Tanner, S.Gz).

Statistical Analysis Statistical analysis is performed using SPSS software, version 26 (IBM Corporation). Fixed effects include treatment groups, treatment visits, and interactions between treatment and visit groups. The value p<0.05 is considered statistically significant.