Chia + Hemp Seeds for Weight Management

Overseen By Rita Rawal, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: USDA Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center

Must not be taking: Certain medications, supplements

Disqualifiers: Diabetes, Gastrointestinal disease, Pregnancy, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

Duration: 6 days (3 periods of 2 days each)

24 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial may require you to stop taking certain medications or supplements if they could interfere with the study's goals. It's best to discuss your current medications with the study team to see if any changes are needed.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Chia Seeds and Hemp Seeds for weight management?

Research on chia seeds alone shows they do not promote weight loss in overweight adults. However, chia seeds are noted for potential health benefits like decreased blood glucose and waist circumference in other contexts, suggesting they might help with weight management when combined with other lifestyle changes. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Are chia and hemp seeds safe for human consumption?

Chia seeds are generally considered safe for human consumption, with no specific hazards identified apart from potential allergenicity. Hemp seed products have been found to be safe and well-tolerated, with only a small percentage of users reporting mild side effects like abdominal discomfort. ^{1 3 6 7 8}

How do chia and hemp seeds help with weight management?

Chia and hemp seeds are unique for weight management due to their high fiber and omega-3 fatty acid content, which may help reduce inflammation and improve metabolic health. Unlike traditional weight loss treatments, these seeds are natural food sources that can be easily incorporated into the diet, although their effectiveness for weight loss specifically is not well-established. ^{1 3 9 10 11}

What is the purpose of this trial?

This study will investigate food ingredients that may provide fullness to healthy adults after a meal. The ingredients will be incorporated into a lunch meal, and measures of hunger and fullness will be evaluated for several hours after the meal. Study subjects must be able to travel to the USDA Nutrition Center in Beltsville Maryland at scheduled times during the study for meals and study measures.

Research Team

Janet Novotny, PhD

Principal Investigator

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Eligibility Criteria

This study is for healthy adults over 25 without allergies to the study foods, and no history of diabetes, gastrointestinal diseases, or weight control surgery. Participants must not be pregnant or planning pregnancy soon, using interfering medications/supplements, have substance abuse issues within the past year, or actively trying to change their weight.

Exclusion Criteria

Known (self-reported) allergy or adverse reaction to study foods

I am under 25 years old.

I have a diagnosed gastrointestinal or pancreatic condition.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo three 2-day treatment periods with different meal compositions to assess satiety effects of chia and hemp seeds

6 days (3 periods of 2 days each)

3 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for satiety and food intake through questionnaires and food weighing

0-4 weeks between treatment periods

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Chia Seeds
• Hemp Seeds

Trial Overview The trial tests how chia seeds and hemp seeds in a soup meal affect feelings of fullness compared to a placebo. Participants will eat at the USDA Nutrition Center and report their hunger and fullness levels over several hours post-meal.

Participant Groups

Group I: Hemp Enriched Lunch Meal Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

A lunch meal will be provided that is comprised of soup, bread, and a cookie. These items will be made from standard recipes that have been enhanced with hemp seeds, which may provide extra satiety compared to the standard recipes in the placebo arm.

Group II: Chia Enriched Lunch Meal Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

A lunch meal will be provided that is comprised of soup, bread, and a cookie. These items will be made from standard recipes that have been enhanced with chia seeds, which may provide extra satiety compared to the standard recipes in the placebo arm.

Group III: Control Lunch Meal Placebo Group 1 Intervention

A lunch meal will be provided that is comprised of soup, bread, and a cookie. These items will be made from standard recipes. This arm will be a placebo comparator to meals made with chia seeds or hemp seeds, which may provide extra satiety.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

USDA Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

56

Recruited

5,300+

Findings from Research

In a study of 60 healthy overweight subjects, those who took Beanblock® for 12 weeks experienced significant weight loss (from 82.8 kg to 78.8 kg) and a reduction in waist circumference (from 94.4 cm to 88.2 cm), while the control group showed only minor changes.

Beanblock® also significantly reduced oxidative stress levels and improved feelings of satiety and appetite, with no reported side effects, indicating it is a safe and effective supplement for weight management.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Beanblock® (standardized dry extract of Phaseolus vulgaris) in mildly overweight subjects: a pilot study. Luzzi, R., Belcaro, G., Hu, S., et al.[2018]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Chia seed does not promote weight loss or alter disease risk factors in overweight adults. [2022]

2. Italy pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Beanblock® (standardized dry extract of Phaseolus vulgaris) in mildly overweight subjects: a pilot study. [2018]

3. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Therapeutic Perspectives on Chia Seed and Its Oil: A Review. [2022]

4. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Flaxseed supplementation improves anthropometric measurements, metabolic, and inflammatory biomarkers in overweight and obese adults. [2022]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of flaxseed supplementation on body weight and body composition: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 45 randomized placebo-controlled trials. [2022]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Post Marketing Safety of Plus CBD™ Products, a Full Spectrum Hemp Extract: A 2-Year Experience. [2021]

7. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Hemp seed significantly modulates the endocannabinoidome and produces beneficial metabolic effects with improved intestinal barrier function and decreased inflammation in mice under a high-fat, high-sucrose diet as compared with linseed. [2022]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Safety of chia seeds (Salvia hispanica L.) as a novel food for extended uses pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. [2020]

9. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Beneficial Fatty Acid Ratio of Salvia hispanica L. (Chia Seed) Potentially Inhibits Adipocyte Hypertrophy, and Decreases Adipokines Expression and Inflammation in Macrophage. [2020]

10. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Protein Digests and Pure Peptides from Chia Seed Prevented Adipogenesis and Inflammation by Inhibiting PPARγ and NF-κB Pathways in 3T3L-1 Adipocytes. [2021]

11. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dietary chia seed (Salvia hispanica L.) rich in alpha-linolenic acid improves adiposity and normalises hypertriacylglycerolaemia and insulin resistance in dyslipaemic rats. [2013]