Satiereal, which was developed by French firm INO'Réal and marketed in the US by New Jersey-based ingredients supplier PL Thomas (PLT) could succeed where other satiety ingredients have failed because it seeks to address the cause of overeating – which is not just about hunger – claims the firm.
The ingredient, which is claimed to curb overeating by boosting levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin, is set to launch in a smoothie and a snack in the third quarter of this year, said director of national sales Rodger Jonas, who was speaking to NutraIngredients-USA at the recent IFT Wellness 2012 conference.
Clinical studies
Satiereal has been tested in a four-week pilot clinical study and an eight-week randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial published in Nutrition Research in 2010 (B. Gout, et al, Nutrition Research 30 2010 305-313).
The ingredient, which was introduced to the European market in 2008 and the US market last year, is GRAS, and is designed to be consumed twice a day before breakfast and dinner, Dr Vladimir Badmaev, director of medical and scientific affairs, PLT, told NutraIngredients-USA last fall.
“The clinically tested daily dose is 176.5mg, which equals to 90mg twice a day half an hour before breakfast and dinner for total daily dose of 180mg.”
The 2010 study evaluated the efficacy of Satiereal on body weight changes over an 8-week period. Snacking frequency, the main secondary variable, was assessed by daily self-recording of episodes by the subjects in a nutrition diary.
Satiereal caused a significantly greater body weight reduction than placebo after 8 weeks, while mean snacking frequency was significantly decreased in the Satiereal group as compared with the placebo group, said Badmaev.
People overeat due to stress, anxiety, frustration and boredom –not just because they are hungry
It was well-known that hunger is only one factor in determining how much we eat, when we eat and why we eat, said Badmaev.
“Many people snack and overeat due to a habit, stress, anxiety, boredom or frustration, even if they don’t feel hungry. Satiereal works by decreasing stress and improving emotional wellness, producing a state of satiety.”
He added: “We feel Satiereal offers more than just its ability to manage cravings and spikes in appetite. Its mechanism of action allows for support of emotional well-being. Many who are on strict low-calorie diets often have attendant irritability and mood fluctuations.
“As with any habit, curtailing it severely and significantly affects mood and outlook. This is one of the reasons why it is so difficult to simply curb one's appetite, and potentially, in our opinion, where others may have failed.”
Historically, saffron was prized as a culinary spice, colorant and dye, and as a medicinal herb. Ancient Persians also used it for treating depression, he said.