Goji Berries and Energy Expenditure

Objectives:

The primary objective of this study is to investigate the effect of a single dose of L. Barbarum on postprandial energy expenditure. Secondary objectives are to investigate the effect of a single dose of L. Barbarum on postprandial lipid and carbohydrate oxidation and metabolic flexibility, on postprandial lipid and glucose metabolism and on inflammatory markers.

Study design:

This is a double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled intervention trial with two test days separated by a washout period of at least 1 week.

Study population:

The study population will consist of 20 apparently healthy overweight (BMI between 25 and 30 kg/m2) men aged 18-65 years.

Intervention:

All subjects will receive a mixed meal including 25 grams of dried L. Barbarum as the intervention product and a matched mixed meal without L. Barbarum as the placebo product. The meals will be matched for energy content and macronutrient composition.

Inclusion criteria

• Male gender
• BMI between 25 and 30 kg/m2
• Non-smoking
• Normal fasting triacylglycerol levels (<2.2 mmol/L)
• No hyperglycaemia or hypercholesterolemia (fasting glucose < 7.0 mmol/L and total cholesterol < 8.0 mmol/L)
• Willing to comply to the study protocol during the study
• Agreeing to be informed about medically relevant personal test-results

Exclusion criteria

• Use of anticoagulant medication
• Unstable body weight (weight gain or loss >3 kg in the past 3 months)
• Indications of treatment according to the Standard for Cardiovascular Risk Management from the Dutch General Practitioners community
• Any medical condition that might interfere with study measurements, judged by the principal investigator, including cardiovascular disease or events (e.g. acute myocardial infarction or cerebra-vascular accident), diabetes or hypercholesterolemia
• Use of any kind of medication or medically prescribed diet, which can interfere with the study (judged by the principal investigator). The use of paracetamol is allowed
• Use of oral antibiotics (with the exception of topical antibiotics) in 40 days or less prior to the start of the study
• Use of food supplements or plant-sterol/stanol-enriched foods or supplements in the three weeks prior to the screening and/or during the study
• Not willing to abstain from L. Barbarum consumption thee weeks before the start and during the trial
• Severe medical conditions that might interfere with the study, such as epilepsy, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and rheumatoid arthritis
• Consumption of > 14 alcohol consumptions a week
• Reported intense sporting activities > 10 hours a week
• Abuse of drugs
• Participation in any other biomedical trial one month prior to the screening visit
• Having donated > 150 ml blood within 1 month prior to the screening visit, planning to donate blood during the study or within one month after finishing the study
• Impossible or difficult to puncture as evidenced during the screening visit