The effect of an experimental prune-based nutritional supplement for reducing the body mass index in moderately overweight women

ISRCTN ISRCTN01504995
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN01504995
Secondary identifying numbers CIP MPMG-2012-03_013
Submission date
18/07/2012
Registration date
02/08/2012
Last edited
18/01/2019
Recruitment status
Stopped
Overall study status
Stopped
Condition category
Nutritional, Metabolic, Endocrine
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
In overweight individuals reducing weight prevents or improves common chronic diseases like diabetes (high blood sugar) and arterial hypertension (increased blood pressure). The aim of this study is to evaluate whether a prune-based nutritional supplement which enhances the feeling of satiety (feeling satisfied) may help in limiting daily food consumption.

Who can participate?
Women >18 years of age without severe comorbidity and a body mass index (BMI) between ≥25 and <35. We will exclude pregnant or breast-feeding women, women with a known allergy to prunes and / or endocrine disorders (i.e., hyper- or hypothyroidism, known diseases of the ovary, the adrenal or pituitary glands).

What does the study involve?
Participants will randomly be assigned to daily intake of 40 g of a prune-base nutritional supplement (PDF4 gel), or an undistiguishable placebo (dummy) for two weeks. The protocol allows for an otherwise unrestricted diet. Clinical assessments including measurement of height and weight will be made at baseline (i.e., before allocation to one or the other intervention), after two and four weeks. Participants will be asked to fill out standardized health outcome form and a questionnaire about eating habits at baseline and after two weeks.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
According to German regulations, the investigators are obliged to inform potential participants that they cannot guarantee any benefit from trial participation. The prune formulation may ease weight reduction by avoiding the feeling of hunger. Both the PDF4 gel and the placebo gel have been classified as nutritional supplements according to German federal and European laws. We do not expect specific risks for the trial participants.

Where is the study run from?
Participants will be recruited at the Spa Health Resort in Bad Ems, Germany.

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
This is a pilot trial to be commenced in August 2012. The expected recruitment period is four months. In case of a faster than forecasted enrollment, the trial will be closed after inclusion of the required 60 participants.

Who is funding the study?
The study is funded by the manufacturer, Dynamic Nutrition Lab, Miesbach, Germany, and QinDAO Research & Development, Berlin, Germany.

Who is the main contact?
Professor Dietmar Lorenz
hdl-medizin@online.de

Contact information

Prof Dietmar Lorenz
Scientific

Alter Postweg 6
Fachbach
56133
Germany

Email hdl-medizin@online.de

Study information

Study designPlacebo-controlled randomized single-center trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)GP practice
Study typeQuality of life
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleShort-term effectiveness of prunus domestica containing a nutritional supplement (PDF4) in reducing weight and improving health-related quality of life in women with pre-obesity and grade I obesity (Body Mass Index 25 kg/m2 to 35 kg/m2): A placebo-controlled, randomized pilot trial
Study objectivesIn women with pre-obesity and obesity grade I, nutritional supplementation with PDF4 gel will lead to an average reduction in BMI of 1.5 - 2.0 kg/m2 two weeks after randomization compared to a placebo control.
Ethics approval(s)Ethics Commission Freiburg, Germany, 16 July 2012, ref: FEKI 012 / 1546
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedModerately overweight
InterventionExperimental treatment: nutritional supplement PDF4 gel 40g/d for two weeks (containing prunus domestica extract) + normal food intake

Control: placebo gel 40g/d for two weeks + normal food intake

Both interventions have been classified as a nutritional supplements complying with German Federal and European regulations.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measureMean difference in BMI reduction between verum (PDF4 gel) and placebo gel two weeks after randomization
Secondary outcome measures1. The average reduction in BMI four weeks after randomization, and the difference between verum and placebo
2. The change in health-related quality of life as assessed by the Short Form 8 (SF-8) questionnaire, its physical and mental component scores, and the difference to population norms two weeks after randomization
3. To assess the effect of the verum and placebo intervention on specific eating habits.
Overall study start date01/08/2012
Completion date01/11/2012

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexFemale
Target number of participants2 x 30 balance block randomization
Key inclusion criteria1. Otherwise healthy women [American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade I / II] >18 years
2. Moderately overweight [i.e. pre-obesity (BMI 25.0 ‒ 29.9) and grade I obesity (BMI 30.0 ‒ 34.9)] according to the WHO classification
3. Capable of understanding the nature of a randomized controlled trial
4. Willing to participate and to provide written informed consent
5. Willing to comply with study-specific assessments during follow-up
Key exclusion criteria1. BMI <25 or BMI >35
2. Pregnancy or lactation
3. Known allergy against any of the ingredients of the verum or placebo gel
4. Known endocrine diseases (e.g. hyper- or hypothyroidism, polycystic ovaries, disorders of the adrenal gland or hypophysis)
5. Enteric disorders and malresorption
6. Psychiatric conditions
Date of first enrolment01/08/2012
Date of final enrolment01/11/2012

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Germany

Study participating centre

Alter Postweg 6
Fachbach
56133
Germany

Sponsor information

Dynamic Nutrition Lab (Germany)
Industry

Marktplatz 7
Miesbach
83714
Germany

Phone +49 8025 3029
Email michael.helm@dynamische-ernaehrung.de

Funders

Funder type

Industry

Dynamic Nutrition Lab (Germany)

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Editorial Notes

18/01/2019: The study was not completed and not published.