Q&A: 2 Key Steps in Reducing Abdominal Fat: A Conversation with Nutrition Expert Maile Combs, MS

The Nature’s Bounty® brand spoke with Maile Combs, MS, Senior Manager of Medical Affairs at Nestlé Health Science—the company behind Nature’s Bounty®—to learn more about the new Nature’s Bounty® Optimal Solutions® Metabolism Booster supplement.  

NB: Why is abdominal fat a problem area for so many women?  

MC: For women, our hormones can play a significant role in the accumulation of belly fat. In addition, as we age, the body loses muscle mass and our metabolic rate—how effective we are at burning calories—goes down, which means our body is more likely to store fat instead of converting it to cellular energy (or burning it).  

NB: What role does metabolism play in weight management?  

MC: Metabolism is an important part of the weight management equation and goes hand in hand with a healthy diet and exercise routine. Weight loss occurs when you burn more calories than you consume. The process is similar to a car’s engine. Just as a car needs gasoline to run, the cells in your body need calories, which can come from fat, to run. Therefore, you want your body to break down fat and convert it to cellular energy as one way to help manage weight.* This conversion process is our metabolism.  

NB: What nutrients are found in the new Nature’s Bounty® Optimal Solutions® Metabolism Booster product?  And, how do they help boost fat metabolism?  

MC: The new Nature’s Bounty® Optimal Solutions® Metabolism Booster product uses a unique combination of plant-based actives that help with fat loss in two different ways.* This dual-action formula features a citrus fruit blend (Sinetrol®) of pomelo, grapefruit, sweet orange, and guarana extracts, and blood orange concentrate coupled with Thai black ginger extract.  

The citrus extract blend promotes the breakdown of stored fat while the Thai black ginger promotes the conversation of this fat to cellular energy.* Both steps are needed to help rid the body of fat.  

NB: Have these nutrients been clinically studied to promote abdominal fat loss and boost fat metabolism?  

MC: Absolutely. There are studies supporting the use of the unique citrus blend (Sinetrol®) to promote the breakdown of stored fat, as well as other studies focused on the use of Thai black ginger to convert the broken-down fat to cellular energy.*   

In a study published in the Journal of Phytotherapy, researchers gave Sinetrol® to 95 adults, ages 22-45 years of age, who had high Body Mass Index (BMI) scores, but were otherwise healthy. After 12 weeks, the participants taking the Sinetrol® experienced a decrease in body weight, a greater reduction in body fat and waist circumference, and a greater increase in free fatty acids, compared to the placebo group.* (1) The increase in free fatty acids confirmed that the Sinetrol® was breaking down the stored fat, so it could move through the bloodstream.* 

A different study, published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, showed similar results when 100 overweight men and women, median age 41, took Sinetrol® for 12 weeks. The Sinetrol® group experienced a decrease in the percentage of body weight and a greater percentage reduction in BMI, compared to the placebo group.* (2)  

Once the fat is moved to the bloodstream, it needs to be picked up by the cells and burned as energy.  There are multiple studies that show the benefits of using Thai black ginger to reduce abdominal fat and convert fat into cellular energy.* (3-5) As the unique citrus blend helps break down the fat and release it in the bloodstream, Thai black ginger can help cells burn the fat for cellular energy.* (1, 3-5)   

NB: What are other ways women can support the health of their core?  

MC: You should view the Metabolism Booster supplement as your workout buddy. It works best when combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise routine—you need to put your own energy into the process. Building muscles throughout your body, and especially in your core or abdominal section, is a key element to help boost your metabolism.  

To learn more about the new Nature’s Bounty® Optimal Solutions® Metabolism Booster supplement, please visit here!

Sinetrol® is the property of Fytexia.  

References 

1. Clinical study to assess the efficacy and safety of a citrus polyphenolic extract of red orange, grapefruit, and orange (Sinetrol-XPur) on weight management and metabolic parameters in healthy overweight individuals - PubMed (nih.gov) 
2. Efficacy and Safety of Sinetrol-XPur on Weight and Body Fat Reduction in Overweight or Obese Adults: A 12-Week, Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel, Placebo-Controlled Trial - PubMed (nih.gov) 
3. Polymethoxyflavone purified from Kaempferia parviflora reduces visceral fat in Japanese overweight individuals: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study - PubMed (nih.gov) 
4. Daily intake of Kaempferia parviflora extract decreases abdominal fat in overweight and preobese subjects: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study - PubMed (nih.gov) 
5. Yoshino, et al. Effects of single oral intake of Kaempferia parviflora extract on energy metabolism—a randomized double-blind crossover study, Jpn. Pharmacol. Ther., 2016, 44, 1757–1762