human
***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: The effects of the soluble fiber konjac glucomannan ( GM ) on serum cholesterol concentrations were investigated in 63 healthy men in a double-blind crossover , placebo-controlled study . After a 2-wk baseline period , the subjects were given 3.9 g GM or placebo daily for 4 wk . After a washout period of 2 wk , crossover took place , followed by another 4 wk of treatment . The subjects were encouraged not to change their ordinary diets or general lifestyle during the investigation . GM fibers reduced total cholesterol ( TC ) concentrations by 10 % ( P < 0.0001 ) , low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) concentrations by 7.2 % ( P < 0.007 ) , triglycerides by 23 % ( P < 0.03 ) , and systolic blood pressure by 2.5 % ( P < 0.02 ) . High-density-lipoprotein cholesterol ( HDL-C ) and the ratio of LDL-C to HDL-C did not change significantly . No change in diastolic blood pressure or body weight was observed . No adverse effects were observed . The results of this study show that GM is an effective cholesterol-lowering dietary adjunct Background . Few safe and effective dietary supplements are available to promote weight loss . We evaluated the safety and efficacy of glucomannan , a water-soluble fiber supplement , for achieving weight loss in overweight and moderately obese individuals consuming self-selected diets . Methods . Participants were r and omly assigned to take 1.33 grams of glucomannan or identically looking placebo capsules with 236.6 mL ( 8 ounces ) of water one hour before breakfast , lunch , and dinner for 8 weeks . The primary efficacy outcome was change in body weight after 8 weeks . Other efficacy outcomes were changes in body composition , hunger/fullness , and lipid and glucose concentrations . Safety outcomes included gastrointestinal symptoms/tolerance and serum liver enzymes and creatinine levels . Results . A total of 53 participants ( 18–65 years of age ; BMI 25–35 kg/m2 ) were enrolled and r and omized . The two groups did not differ with respect to baseline characteristics and compliance with the study supplement . At 8 weeks , there was no significant difference between the glucomannan and placebo groups in amount of weight loss ( −.40 ± .06 and −.43 ± .07 , resp . ) or other efficacy outcomes or in any of the safety outcomes . Conclusions . Glucomannan supplements administered over 8 weeks were well tolerated but did not promote weight loss or significantly alter body composition , hunger/fullness , or lipid and glucose parameters . This trial is registered with NCT00613600 BACKGROUND Fiber supplements added to a caloric diet have additional effects on weight reduction in overweight subjects . The aim of this study was to compare the effect of various commercial fiber supplements ( glucomannan , guar gum and alginate ) on weight reduction in healthy overweight subjects . MATERIAL / METHODS One hundred and seventy six men and women were included to receive either active fiber substance or placebo in r and omized placebo-controlled studies . The fiber supplements consisted of the viscous fibers glucomannan ( Chrombalance ) , glucomannan and guar gum ( Appe-Trim ) and glucomannan , guar gum and alginat ( Glucosahl ) . RESULTS All fiber supplements plus a balanced 1200 kcal diet induced significantly weight reduction more than placebo and diet alone , during a five week observation period . However , there were no significant differences between the different fibers in their ability to induce weight reduction , which was approximately 0.8 kg/week ( 3.8 + /- 0.9 , 4.4 + /- 2.0 , 4.1 + /- 0.6 in the Chrombalance , Appe-Trim and Glucosahl group , respectively ) . CONCLUSIONS Glucomannan induced body weight reduction in healthy overweight subjects , whereas the addition of guar gum and alginate did not seem to cause additional loss of weight Hydroxycitric acid ( HCA ) , the main compound of Garcinia cambogia extract , is a competitive blocker of ATP-citrate-lyase , presenting a potential inhibition of fatty acid bio synthesis . Glucomannan fibers , abundant in Amorphophallus konjac , seem to reduce the absorption kinetics of dietary fat . Therefore , the aim of this double-blind r and omized study was to evaluate the pharmacotherapeutic efficacy of st and ardized extracts of G. cambogia ( 52.4 % HCA ) plus A. konjac ( 94.9 % glucomannan ) in the treatment of obesity . Fifty-eight obese subjects ( BMI 30.0 - 39.9 kg/m(2 ) ) were assigned to the  placebo  group ( n = 26 ) or the treatment group ( n = 32 ) ; no dietary restrictions were applied . Over a 12-week period , subjects were given daily doses of either Garcinia ( 2.4 g ) plus Konjac ( 1.5 g ) or placebo prior to their main meals ( 3 times/day ) . Before the start of treatment , and every 4 weeks thereafter , the following were recorded : height , weight , circumferences and body composition , resting energy expenditure ( REE ) , lipid profile and glucose levels . The treatment had no significant effect on anthropometric parameters , REE , triglycerides or glucose levels . However , a significant reduction was observed in total cholesterol ( -32.0 + /- 35.1 mg/dL ) and LDL-c levels ( -28.7 + /- 32.7 mg/dL ) in the treated group , the final levels being significantly lower than those of the placebo group ( p = 0.008 and p = 0.020 , respectively ) . The results obtained suggest that the treatment had a significant hypocholesterolemic effect , without influencing the anthropometric or calorimetric parameters tested BACKGROUND AND AIMS Dietary fiber that develops viscosity in the gastrointestinal tract is capable of addressing various aspects of food intake control . The aim of this study was to assess subsequent food intake and appetite in relation to the level of viscosity following three liquid preloads each containing 5 g of either a high ( novel viscous polysaccharide ; NVP ) , medium ( glucomannan ; GLM ) , or low ( cellulose ; CE ) viscosity fiber . METHODS AND RESULTS In this double-blind , r and omized , controlled and crossover trial , 31 healthy weight adolescents ( 25 F:6 M ; age 16.1+/-0.6 years ; BMI 22.2+/-3.7 kg/m(2 ) ) consumed one of the three preloads 90 min prior to an ad libitum pizza meal . Preloads were identical in taste , appearance , nutrient content and quantity of fiber , but different in their viscosities ( 10 , 410 , and 700 poise for CE , GLM , and NVP , respectively ) . Pizza intake was significantly lower ( p=0.008 ) after consumption of the high-viscosity NVP ( 278+/-111 g ) compared to the medium-viscosity GLM ( 313+/-123 g ) and low-viscosity CE ( 316+/-138 g ) preloads , with no difference between the GLM and CE preloads . Appetite scores , physical symptoms and 24-h intake did not differ among treatment groups . CONCLUSION A highly viscous NVP preload leads to reduced subsequent food intake , in terms of both gram weight and calories , in healthy weight adolescents . This study provides preliminary evidence of an independent contribution of viscosity on food intake and may form a basis for further studies on factors influencing food intake in adolescents Dietary fibres are frequently used for the treatment of paediatric obesity . The aim of this clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy of glucomannan in the  child obesity management . This experimental design was double blinded with a block r and omisation , alpha = 0.05 , beta = 0.2 and delta = 50 % . The study involved 60 children under 15 years of age ( mean age 11.2 years , mean overweight 46 % ) , 30 of them under glucomannan treatment ( 1 g twice a day for two months ) and 30 under placebo and the same schedule . The drug and the placebo were indistinguishable both for the family and the physician . During the two months study period the children followed a normocaloric diet evaluated every two weeks by a dietetic record book . At the beginning of the study the drug and the placebo groups were comparable in regards to anthropometric data . At the end , the mean overweight of the drug group was decreased from 49.5 % to 41 % and that of the placebo group from 43.9 % to 41.7 % . Both decreases were significant ( p < 0.01 ) , but no significant difference was observed between the drug and the placebo groups . The only significant difference concerned the lipid metabolism . The children under glucomannan treatment manifested a significant decrease of alpha-lipoprotein and an increase of pre-beta-lipoprotein and triglycerides ; the children under placebo manifested only a decrease of triglycerides and apo beta-lipoprotein . We suggest that this metabolic alteration may derive from a primary decrease of alpha-lipoprotein , most likely because of an inadequate water intake . ( ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS Carbohydrate-restricted diets ( CRDs ) promote weight loss , reductions in plasma triacylglycerol ( TAG ) levels , and increases in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( HDL-C ) levels but may cause undesirable low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) responses in some people . The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of adding soluble fiber to a CRD on plasma LDL-C and other traditionally measured markers of cardiovascular disease . Using a parallel-arm , double-blind , placebo-controlled design , 30 overweight and obese men ( body mass index , 25 - 35 kg/m(2 ) ) were r and omly assigned to supplement a CRD with soluble fiber ( Konjac-mannan , 3g/d ) ( n = 15 ) or placebo ( n = 15 ) . Plasma lipids , anthropometrics , body composition , blood pressure , and nutrient intake were evaluated at baseline and at 6 and 12 weeks . Compliance was excellent as assessed by 7-day weighed dietary records and ketonuria . Both groups experienced decreases in ( P < .01 ) body weight , percent body fat , systolic blood pressure , waist circumference , and plasma glucose levels . After 12 weeks , HDL-C and TAG improved significantly in the fiber ( 10 % and -34 % ) and placebo ( 14 % , -43 % ) groups . LDL-C decreased by 17.6 % ( P < .01 ) at week 6 and 14.1 % ( P < .01 ) at week 12 in the fiber group . Conversely , LDL-C reductions were significant in the placebo group only after 12 weeks ( -6.0 % , P < .05 ) . We conclude that although clearly effective at lowering LDL-C , adding soluble fiber to a CRD during active and significant weight loss provides no additional benefits to the diet alone . Furthermore , a CRD led to clinical ly important positive alterations in cardiovascular disease risk factors AIM This paper evaluates the effect of the adjunct of the hydrosoluble fiber glucomannan to a Step-One-Diet in 40 plasma hypercholesterolemic children , during a r and omized controlled trial , to reduce plasma cholesterol . METHODS All the subjects recruited underwent an 8-week run in diet period ; a Step-One-Diet was prescribed . After that , they were r and omly allocated to one of two groups : Step-One-Diet only ( control ) , and Step-One-Diet plus glucomannan in gelatine capsules . After another 8 weeks of treatment , the results were compared within and between the two groups . RESULTS Glucomannan treated group showed decreased values in plasma total cholesterol ( TC ) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) vs. control group after 8 weeks of treatment . The percentage decrease showed a statistically significant difference between sex groups . Decreases were observed in favor of female vs. male children in TC ( 24 % vs. 9 % ) and LDL-C ( 30 % vs. 9 % ) . CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that glucomannan may represent a rationale adjunct to diet therapy in primary prevention in high risk hypercholesterolemic children OBJECTIVE Primary dyslipidemias are major risk factors for cardiovascular disease and should be addressed early in life . The aim of this study was to evaluate , in children affected by primary hypercholesterolemia , the efficacy and tolerability of a short-term treatment with a dietary supplement containing glucomannan . METHODS A double-blind , r and omized , placebo-controlled , cross-over trial was conducted in 36 children ( aged 6 - 15 years ) affected by primary hypercholesterolemia . After a 4-week run-in period with dietary counseling , children received glucomannan or placebo twice-daily for  
    Output:
    
agent
CONCLUSIONS In otherwise healthy overweight or obese adults , there is some evidence that in the short term GM may help to reduce BW , but not BMI .
***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: The effects of the soluble fiber konjac glucomannan ( GM ) on serum cholesterol concentrations were investigated in 63 healthy men in a double-blind crossover , placebo-controlled study . After a 2-wk baseline period , the subjects were given 3.9 g GM or placebo daily for 4 wk . After a washout period of 2 wk , crossover took place , followed by another 4 wk of treatment . The subjects were encouraged not to change their ordinary diets or general lifestyle during the investigation . GM fibers reduced total cholesterol ( TC ) concentrations by 10 % ( P < 0.0001 ) , low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) concentrations by 7.2 % ( P < 0.007 ) , triglycerides by 23 % ( P < 0.03 ) , and systolic blood pressure by 2.5 % ( P < 0.02 ) . High-density-lipoprotein cholesterol ( HDL-C ) and the ratio of LDL-C to HDL-C did not change significantly . No change in diastolic blood pressure or body weight was observed . No adverse effects were observed . The results of this study show that GM is an effective cholesterol-lowering dietary adjunct Background . Few safe and effective dietary supplements are available to promote weight loss . We evaluated the safety and efficacy of glucomannan , a water-soluble fiber supplement , for achieving weight loss in overweight and moderately obese individuals consuming self-selected diets . Methods . Participants were r and omly assigned to take 1.33 grams of glucomannan or identically looking placebo capsules with 236.6 mL ( 8 ounces ) of water one hour before breakfast , lunch , and dinner for 8 weeks . The primary efficacy outcome was change in body weight after 8 weeks . Other efficacy outcomes were changes in body composition , hunger/fullness , and lipid and glucose concentrations . Safety outcomes included gastrointestinal symptoms/tolerance and serum liver enzymes and creatinine levels . Results . A total of 53 participants ( 18–65 years of age ; BMI 25–35 kg/m2 ) were enrolled and r and omized . The two groups did not differ with respect to baseline characteristics and compliance with the study supplement . At 8 weeks , there was no significant difference between the glucomannan and placebo groups in amount of weight loss ( −.40 ± .06 and −.43 ± .07 , resp . ) or other efficacy outcomes or in any of the safety outcomes . Conclusions . Glucomannan supplements administered over 8 weeks were well tolerated but did not promote weight loss or significantly alter body composition , hunger/fullness , or lipid and glucose parameters . This trial is registered with NCT00613600 BACKGROUND Fiber supplements added to a caloric diet have additional effects on weight reduction in overweight subjects . The aim of this study was to compare the effect of various commercial fiber supplements ( glucomannan , guar gum and alginate ) on weight reduction in healthy overweight subjects . MATERIAL / METHODS One hundred and seventy six men and women were included to receive either active fiber substance or placebo in r and omized placebo-controlled studies . The fiber supplements consisted of the viscous fibers glucomannan ( Chrombalance ) , glucomannan and guar gum ( Appe-Trim ) and glucomannan , guar gum and alginat ( Glucosahl ) . RESULTS All fiber supplements plus a balanced 1200 kcal diet induced significantly weight reduction more than placebo and diet alone , during a five week observation period . However , there were no significant differences between the different fibers in their ability to induce weight reduction , which was approximately 0.8 kg/week ( 3.8 + /- 0.9 , 4.4 + /- 2.0 , 4.1 + /- 0.6 in the Chrombalance , Appe-Trim and Glucosahl group , respectively ) . CONCLUSIONS Glucomannan induced body weight reduction in healthy overweight subjects , whereas the addition of guar gum and alginate did not seem to cause additional loss of weight Hydroxycitric acid ( HCA ) , the main compound of Garcinia cambogia extract , is a competitive blocker of ATP-citrate-lyase , presenting a potential inhibition of fatty acid bio synthesis . Glucomannan fibers , abundant in Amorphophallus konjac , seem to reduce the absorption kinetics of dietary fat . Therefore , the aim of this double-blind r and omized study was to evaluate the pharmacotherapeutic efficacy of st and ardized extracts of G. cambogia ( 52.4 % HCA ) plus A. konjac ( 94.9 % glucomannan ) in the treatment of obesity . Fifty-eight obese subjects ( BMI 30.0 - 39.9 kg/m(2 ) ) were assigned to the  placebo  group ( n = 26 ) or the treatment group ( n = 32 ) ; no dietary restrictions were applied . Over a 12-week period , subjects were given daily doses of either Garcinia ( 2.4 g ) plus Konjac ( 1.5 g ) or placebo prior to their main meals ( 3 times/day ) . Before the start of treatment , and every 4 weeks thereafter , the following were recorded : height , weight , circumferences and body composition , resting energy expenditure ( REE ) , lipid profile and glucose levels . The treatment had no significant effect on anthropometric parameters , REE , triglycerides or glucose levels . However , a significant reduction was observed in total cholesterol ( -32.0 + /- 35.1 mg/dL ) and LDL-c levels ( -28.7 + /- 32.7 mg/dL ) in the treated group , the final levels being significantly lower than those of the placebo group ( p = 0.008 and p = 0.020 , respectively ) . The results obtained suggest that the treatment had a significant hypocholesterolemic effect , without influencing the anthropometric or calorimetric parameters tested BACKGROUND AND AIMS Dietary fiber that develops viscosity in the gastrointestinal tract is capable of addressing various aspects of food intake control . The aim of this study was to assess subsequent food intake and appetite in relation to the level of viscosity following three liquid preloads each containing 5 g of either a high ( novel viscous polysaccharide ; NVP ) , medium ( glucomannan ; GLM ) , or low ( cellulose ; CE ) viscosity fiber . METHODS AND RESULTS In this double-blind , r and omized , controlled and crossover trial , 31 healthy weight adolescents ( 25 F:6 M ; age 16.1+/-0.6 years ; BMI 22.2+/-3.7 kg/m(2 ) ) consumed one of the three preloads 90 min prior to an ad libitum pizza meal . Preloads were identical in taste , appearance , nutrient content and quantity of fiber , but different in their viscosities ( 10 , 410 , and 700 poise for CE , GLM , and NVP , respectively ) . Pizza intake was significantly lower ( p=0.008 ) after consumption of the high-viscosity NVP ( 278+/-111 g ) compared to the medium-viscosity GLM ( 313+/-123 g ) and low-viscosity CE ( 316+/-138 g ) preloads , with no difference between the GLM and CE preloads . Appetite scores , physical symptoms and 24-h intake did not differ among treatment groups . CONCLUSION A highly viscous NVP preload leads to reduced subsequent food intake , in terms of both gram weight and calories , in healthy weight adolescents . This study provides preliminary evidence of an independent contribution of viscosity on food intake and may form a basis for further studies on factors influencing food intake in adolescents Dietary fibres are frequently used for the treatment of paediatric obesity . The aim of this clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy of glucomannan in the  child obesity management . This experimental design was double blinded with a block r and omisation , alpha = 0.05 , beta = 0.2 and delta = 50 % . The study involved 60 children under 15 years of age ( mean age 11.2 years , mean overweight 46 % ) , 30 of them under glucomannan treatment ( 1 g twice a day for two months ) and 30 under placebo and the same schedule . The drug and the placebo were indistinguishable both for the family and the physician . During the two months study period the children followed a normocaloric diet evaluated every two weeks by a dietetic record book . At the beginning of the study the drug and the placebo groups were comparable in regards to anthropometric data . At the end , the mean overweight of the drug group was decreased from 49.5 % to 41 % and that of the placebo group from 43.9 % to 41.7 % . Both decreases were significant ( p < 0.01 ) , but no significant difference was observed between the drug and the placebo groups . The only significant difference concerned the lipid metabolism . The children under glucomannan treatment manifested a significant decrease of alpha-lipoprotein and an increase of pre-beta-lipoprotein and triglycerides ; the children under placebo manifested only a decrease of triglycerides and apo beta-lipoprotein . We suggest that this metabolic alteration may derive from a primary decrease of alpha-lipoprotein , most likely because of an inadequate water intake . ( ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS Carbohydrate-restricted diets ( CRDs ) promote weight loss , reductions in plasma triacylglycerol ( TAG ) levels , and increases in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( HDL-C ) levels but may cause undesirable low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) responses in some people . The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of adding soluble fiber to a CRD on plasma LDL-C and other traditionally measured markers of cardiovascular disease . Using a parallel-arm , double-blind , placebo-controlled design , 30 overweight and obese men ( body mass index , 25 - 35 kg/m(2 ) ) were r and omly assigned to supplement a CRD with soluble fiber ( Konjac-mannan , 3g/d ) ( n = 15 ) or placebo ( n = 15 ) . Plasma lipids , anthropometrics , body composition , blood pressure , and nutrient intake were evaluated at baseline and at 6 and 12 weeks . Compliance was excellent as assessed by 7-day weighed dietary records and ketonuria . Both groups experienced decreases in ( P < .01 ) body weight , percent body fat , systolic blood pressure , waist circumference , and plasma glucose levels . After 12 weeks , HDL-C and TAG improved significantly in the fiber ( 10 % and -34 % ) and placebo ( 14 % , -43 % ) groups . LDL-C decreased by 17.6 % ( P < .01 ) at week 6 and 14.1 % ( P < .01 ) at week 12 in the fiber group . Conversely , LDL-C reductions were significant in the placebo group only after 12 weeks ( -6.0 % , P < .05 ) . We conclude that although clearly effective at lowering LDL-C , adding soluble fiber to a CRD during active and significant weight loss provides no additional benefits to the diet alone . Furthermore , a CRD led to clinical ly important positive alterations in cardiovascular disease risk factors AIM This paper evaluates the effect of the adjunct of the hydrosoluble fiber glucomannan to a Step-One-Diet in 40 plasma hypercholesterolemic children , during a r and omized controlled trial , to reduce plasma cholesterol . METHODS All the subjects recruited underwent an 8-week run in diet period ; a Step-One-Diet was prescribed . After that , they were r and omly allocated to one of two groups : Step-One-Diet only ( control ) , and Step-One-Diet plus glucomannan in gelatine capsules . After another 8 weeks of treatment , the results were compared within and between the two groups . RESULTS Glucomannan treated group showed decreased values in plasma total cholesterol ( TC ) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) vs. control group after 8 weeks of treatment . The percentage decrease showed a statistically significant difference between sex groups . Decreases were observed in favor of female vs. male children in TC ( 24 % vs. 9 % ) and LDL-C ( 30 % vs. 9 % ) . CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that glucomannan may represent a rationale adjunct to diet therapy in primary prevention in high risk hypercholesterolemic children OBJECTIVE Primary dyslipidemias are major risk factors for cardiovascular disease and should be addressed early in life . The aim of this study was to evaluate , in children affected by primary hypercholesterolemia , the efficacy and tolerability of a short-term treatment with a dietary supplement containing glucomannan . METHODS A double-blind , r and omized , placebo-controlled , cross-over trial was conducted in 36 children ( aged 6 - 15 years ) affected by primary hypercholesterolemia . After a 4-week run-in period with dietary counseling , children received glucomannan or placebo twice-daily for  
    Output:
    