Consumption of alpha-Linolenic Acid-enriched Diacylglycerol Reduces Visceral Fat Area in Overweight and Obese Subjects: a Randomized, Double-blind Controlled, Parallel-group Designed Trial.

A randomized, double-blind controlled, parallel-group designed trial was performed to investigate the effect of alpha linolenic acid (ALA)-enriched diacylglycerol (DAG) on visceral fat area (VFA) in obese subjects. One hundred eighty-four obese subjects were recruited and randomly allocated to two groups consuming either 2.5 g/d control triacylglycerol (TAG) or ALA-DAG for 12 wk. A 4-wk observation period followed the 12-wk consumption period. One hundred seventy-seven subjects (N=89 in the TAG group, N=88 in the ALA-DAG group) completed the study. The change in VFA at 12-wk from baseline, as the primary outcome, was significantly lower in the ALA-DAG group than in the TAG group. The reduction in VFA was significantly correlated with the baseline VFA. Body weight and waist circumference, as the secondary measures, were also significantly lower in the ALA-DAG group than in the TAG group. The reduction in the VFA was significantly correlated with body weight reduction, suggesting that the VFA reduction was a contributing factor preventing weight gain. Safety parameters and the incidence of adverse events did not differ significantly between groups. In conclusion, ALA-DAG could be useful for reducing VFA and concomitantly suppressing weight gain with no side effects.