Efficacy of a Traditional Herbal Mixture as an Anti-Obesity Supplement in Obese Individuals: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Obesity and overweight are critical public health concerns characterized by excessive body fat. Worldwide, many natural products have been used for treating obesity. It seems that natural supplements based on traditional medicinal plants are safe options for treating obesity. Recent experiments have revealed many herbal medicinal products as useful treatments for obesity. Methods: In this study, we used an herbal formulation consisting of four traditional medicinal plants including Origanum vulgare, Carum carvi, Trachyspermum copticum, and Ruta graveolens as an anti-obesity supplement for obese adults. An 8-week double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in obese adults. Sixty-eight subjects were randomly assigned to two groups of control (n = 34) and intervention (n = 34). Anthropometric indices and biochemical parameters were measured at baseline and after the intervention. Results: Body weight, body mass index, and percent body fat were significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (p=0.046 and p = 0.02, respectively). Moreover, there were significant reductions in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride in the intervention group in comparison with the control group. The supplement was generally well tolerated and no remarkable adverse side effects were reported. Conclusion: This herbal mixture effectively reduced body weight and fat mass in obese subjects. It also showed potential efficacy in controlling lipid profile and blood glucose.