ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a recent study published in the International Journal of Obesity (August 2004), Almased(R), an all-natural nutritional supplement made up of an unique fermented blend of soy protein, yogurt, and honey, has been proven to support weight reduction while preserving muscle mass and increasing energy and performance.
“The main goal in losing weight is to lose fat. Throughout evolution our bodies, however, are trained to lose muscle mass first and to retain fat as a caloric reserve for difficult times,” states Dr. Theodore Drell, Vice President of Scientific Affairs at Almased USA.
The weight loss study completed at the Dept. of Rehabilitation and Preventive Sports Medicine at the University of Freiburg in Germany used a supplemented, balanced diet to positively influence the metabolism of overweight adults. Prof. Dr. Aloys Berg and colleagues conducted a clinically controlled, randomized weight loss trial on 90 patients (ages 35 to 65) with a BMI of between 27 and 35 kg/m. The trial divided the patients into three groups: the first group received specific, programmed health education; the second received a balanced diet supplemented with the soy-yogurt-honey-base, Almased(R), which replaced two of the designated three meals a day for the first 6 weeks of the intervention, and in the subsequent 18 weeks replaced one of the three meals. The third group received the supplemented diet program and was also offered a regular, endurance-based exercise program.
A significantly higher weight loss, a mean average of -19.6 lbs., was measured in the group who received Almased(R) (supplement-balanced diet), with no reduction of muscle mass, compared to the control group, which had a mean average weight loss of -13.6 lbs.
“The preservation of muscle mass as shown in the intervention is an important element to sustained weight loss and improved metabolism,” says Dr. Berg. “Since the weight loss with Almased(R) was 44 percent more than the control group, we see that Almased(R) provides a healthy jumpstart to assist people with their weight loss or weight management goals,” states Berg.
The Almased(R) study also confirms data presented at the American Heart Association’s Conference, November 2003, that suggests that controlling leptin and insulin levels are key indicators to avoiding rebound weight gain(1). Leptin plays an important role in the hunger/satiety regulation and obese people often have elevated leptin levels. “In obesity this hunger/satiety regulation is out of control,” says Dr. Drell. “This is described as a leptin resistance. The body does not react to the leptin signal anymore, and therefore it is important the leptin levels go back to normal during dieting.” Blood level tests during the intervention show leptin was reduced significantly more (44 percent) in the Almased(R) group (-15.5 ng/ml) than in the control group (-8.7 ng/ml). Insulin has a similar advantage in the Almased(R) group with a decline of -5.4 uU/ml versus the control group, which only had a decline of 1.4 uU/ml. “Insulin likewise is often elevated in obesity,” states Dr. Drell, “and causes fat stores to be build up.” There was also a positive effect in the Almased(R) group over the control group for the following key blood and body measurements:
* Stomach and hip measurements were reduced by 47 percent and 125 percent more respectively.
* Cortisol levels in the Almased(R) group fell 65 percent more (high Cortisol levels indicate stress, e.g. diet stress, leading to fat storage).
* Higher reduction in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and changes were also noted in the pro-inflammatory profile in the Almased(R) group.
* Apo-B fell more in the Almased(R) group. * Activity increased significantly in the Almased(R) group.
Further trials are to begin shortly in the U.S. at Truman Medical Center Hospital Hill in Kansas City, Missouri, and studies, which examined diabetic and postmenopausal women, have been successfully completed and their publication is expected soon.
Almased(R) is an all-natural nutritional supplement, a unique fermented blend of soy protein, yogurt and honey. Almased(R) is backed by 20 years of experience, and is the number one weight loss product in Germany. Almased(R) is now available in the U.S. and is sold in 17.6-ounce cans, which can be mixed with water, juice, or milk to be consumed as a liquid, or added to make a great tasting shake or smoothie. Almased(R) products are sold in health food stores across the U.S. and Canada. The U.S. headquarters are based in St. Petersburg, Florida. For more information, call 1-800-ALMASED or visit http://www.almased.com/ .
Reference
(1) Kazuki Masuo, MD. Ph.D. Reasons for Rebound Weight Gain Found, AHA 2003 Scientific Sessions: Abstract 3049.
International Journal of Obesity Related Metabolic Disorders. 2004 Oct;28(10): 1349-52. Deibert P, Konig D, Schmidt-Trucksaess A, Zaenker KS, Frey I, Landmann U, Berg A.
Almased USA
CONTACT: Tamara York of ADinfinitum, +1-212-693-2150, ext. 314, ortamara@adinfinitumny.com, for Almased USA
Web site: http://www.almased.com/