Previous lab studies suggest that a compound found in pine nuts, called pinolenic acid, stimulates the release of two appetite-suppressing hormones, cholecystokinin (CCK) and GLP1 (a glucagon-like peptide). Pine nuts are not really nuts, they're edible seeds found in pine cones. They're often used in pesto and have been consumed in Europe and Asia for millenia. Now research conducted on overweight women reports that pinolenic acid derived from pine nuts may curb appetite and help with weight loss.
The study, presented at the March 26-30, 2006 annual meeting of the American Chemical Society's National Meeting & Exposition in Atlanta, investigated the effect of pinolenic acid on overweight women. Researchers at Lipid Nutrition, a Netherlands-based company which manufactures a commercial gel capsule version of the pine-nut oil extract (called PinnoThin), administered either 3 grams of the pine-nut extract or a placebo (olive oil) to 18 overweight women. The participants were given the pine nut extract before eating a high-carbohydrate meal. Serum levels of CCK and GLP1 and two other appetite-related hormones, ghrelin and PPY peptide, were obtained from the participants every four hours. The participants also rated their appetite.
The researchers found that the participants who took the pine-nut extract had higher levels of CCK and GLP1 soon after consumption. Furthermore, the participants reported less hunger and experienced reduced food cravings and food intake. Findings also revealed that ghrelin and PPY peptide levels were similar in both groups. The participants' long term weight changes were not followed in the study.
"The women who had taken the pine nut capsules reported less hunger and showed higher levels of CCK and GLP-1 than those who took the placebo pills," says Jennifer Causey, PhD, nutrition manager at Lipid Nutrition.
REFERENCES:
1. Highlights Of American Chemical Society Meeting In Atlanta, March 26-30. Medical News Today.
2. American Chemical Society News Release.
3. Hitti M. Pine Nut Oil May Cut Appetite. WebMD Medical News, March 28, 2006.
Posted by Elaine Gavalas on February 9, 2007 03:34 PM
