Naturopathy pepper against overweight

Black pepper can prevent overweight

05/08/2012

Black pepper can reduce the risk of being overweight. Some of the seasonings contained inhibit the production of fat cells and thus counteract the development of obesity, Korean researchers report in the journal „Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry“. Pepper has long been known for various beneficial health effects. The ingredients of the spice are considered to stimulate the metabolism and have traditionally been used in the treatment of cholera and diarrhea. Now, Korean researchers at Sejong University have discovered that pepper can also counteract the development of obesity.

Active substance inhibits the growth of fat cells
Sejong University researchers in Seoul, in their research, had encouraged human cell cultures to form fat cells, analyzing the different growth of fat cells in different carrier media. If the carrier medium was mixed with the pepper condiment piperine, the cultures formed significantly fewer fat cells than those of the comparison group without piperine, the researchers report „Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry“. Apparently, the ingredient in the pepper suppressed the activity of the genes that are used to convert the fat precursor cells in the fat cells, so the explanation of the scientists.

Responsible ingredients
However, piperine in the pepper only makes up a share of five to ten percent, so that the overweight-inhibiting effect of the pepper itself can be classified as rather moderate. However, the researchers discovered other components in spices that can have a preventive effect on overweight and obesity: carvacrol, thymol, eugenol and piperine. It was the „inhibitory effect quantitatively represented by the total lipid storage amount, the triacylglycerol storage amount and the average lipid body size“, write the Korean scientists.

Treatment of obesity with pepper condiment?
In concentrated form, the piperine could possibly be used in the future for the treatment of obesity or various metabolic diseases, so the researchers hope. However, further studies should first clarify whether piperine can actually contribute to the prevention of obesity. Additional research was needed to verify the current results, the researchers said in the study report. (Fp)

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Image: Birgit H, Pixelio.de