A drink made from seaweed may help to reduce energy intake and thus aid weight loss, new research suggests.
Researchers enrolled 68 men and women with an average age of 24.6 for the study. Participants were randomly assigned to either the seaweed drink containing 1.5 grams of strong-gelling sodium alginate, or a placebo for seven days. Results showed that once daily consumption of the seaweed beverage led to a significant 7% reduction in daily energy intake – equivalent to approximately 135 kcal.
The researchers concluded: These findings suggest a possible role for a strong-gelling sodium alginate formulation in the future management of overweight and obesity.
Paxan JR. Ruchardson JC, Dettmer PW, Corfe BM. Daily ingestion of alginate reduces energy intake in free-living subjects. Appetite 2008;51:713-719.
