Today is March 4 and World Obesity Day is remembered around the world.
And this reminder not only has a commemorative meaning, but also avoids the idea of preventing this epidemic that is about to become a disease with serious socio-economic consequences.

In addition, in today’s article, we will remind you that at Salengei we have developed a supplement based on saffron, a spice that has very good properties when thinking about an action plan against excessive appetite.

Obesity as a multipurpose phenomenon

Obesity is a fairly complex multifactorial disease.
The global prevalence of overweight and obesity has doubled since the 1980s to the point that nearly one-third of the world’s population now falls into one of the categories of overweight or obesity.

Obesity rates have increased in all ages and both sexes, regardless of geographic location, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, although the prevalence of obesity is generally higher in older people and women.

In 2016, about 13% of the world’s adult population (11% of men and 15% of women) were obese.

Obesity represents a major health challenge because it substantially increases the risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, hypertension, acute myocardial infarction, strokes, dementia, osteoarthritis, obstructive sleep apnea, and several types of cancer, thus contributing to the decrease in quality of life and life expectancy. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41574-019-0176-8

Adiposopathy present in obesity

At the base of obesity is adiposopathy or “diseased fat”, defined as a set of anatomical-functional and pathological disorders that affect adipose tissue.
The changes are promoted by a positive caloric balance in genetically and environmentally susceptible individuals who are affected by adverse endocrine and immune responses that can cause or worsen metabolic diseases.

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.a2900

Adiposopathy bases its pathophysiological basis on adipocyte hypertrophy, visceral adiposity and/or ectopic fat deposition and the secretion of hormones, such as leptin, and pro-inflammatory proteins, such as the plethora of cytokines, which in turn can lead to metabolic disease. https://doi.org/10.1586/14779072.6.3.343

Saffron, the most expensive spice as an ally

Saffron, whose taxonomic name is Crocus sativus L, belongs to the Iridaceae family and is considered the most expensive spice in the world.
This is mainly due to its difficult cultivation and harvesting process.
In producing countries such as Iran, India, Greece, France, Italy, and Spain, the value of this spice is as high as gold.

Although it is generally used for its sophisticated aroma, vibrant color and typical flavor, it also has some health benefits that are due to its three main chemical components: crocin, crocetin and safranal.
The flowers also possess other metabolites such as terpenes, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and carotenoids.
Crocin, a family of red-colored, water-soluble carotenoids, is considered the main active component of saffron.

Saffron, according to several studies, can be an adjuvant in weight loss diets.

The aroma and smell of saffron are due to the presence of an important component of saffron essential oil called safranal, a monoterpene aldehyde.
These chemical components have a wide range of pharmacological effects known since ancient times, including antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, antitumors, neuroprotectives, antihypertensives, antidepressants, anxiolytics, antidiabetics, hypoglycemics, lipid-lowering and satiety enhancers.
DOI: 10.1007/s10354-007-0428-4

Does it have proven effects?

Some in vitro and in vivo studies showed beneficial effects of saffron extract in reducing the risk and treating obesity.
Below we show the following.

In one study, the effect of saffron extract and its parent compound, crocin, was measured in a rat model of induced obesity.
The study aimed to investigate and compare metabolite changes in obese versus obese treated with saffron and crocin extract and to improve understanding of the therapeutic effect of saffron extract and crocin.

Two different doses of saffron and crocin extracts (40 and 80 mg/kg) were incorporated into a high-fat diet and administered for eight weeks to obese rats.
Changes in serum metabolite profiles were determined by proton nuclear magnetic resonance.

Pattern recognition by multivariate data analysis (MVDA) showed that saffron extract and crocin at 80 mg/kg was the best dose compared to 40 mg/kg.
The study also showed that both treatments work in different pathways, especially when it comes to glucose, lipid, and creatinine metabolism.
In conclusion, although the pure compound, crocin, was superior to crude saffron extract, this finding suggested that saffron extract can be considered as an alternative in addition to crocin in the treatment of obesity. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/1247946

Leptin is the hormone that acts on the brain on appetite, causing the feeling of being satiated

In another study by Hoshyar et al.
It was also reported that oral administration of saffron stigma extract in obese rats significantly lowered the level of fasting blood glucose, insulin, and leptin. https://doi.org/10.5812/ircmj.36226

As an additional fact, we have found a latest study that compares the effect of different intensities of physical training with the intake of saffron supplements on metabolic balance in overweight and obese women.
According to the results we had access to, intense intermittent exercise (HIIT) with saffron supplement is an appropriate strategy for health and obesity prevention. http://eprints.lums.ac.ir/2392/

Active Silhouette

Active Silueta is a food supplement of different extracts including saffron extract and other phytonutrients, as well as chromium, which contribute to weight loss.
The saffron contained in Active Silueta is used for both weight loss and to improve the mood, anxiety, and depression that normally accompany obesity.

Among the properties of Active Silueta are:

• It helps reduce body fat.
• Helps decrease appetite.
• Contributes to the activation of the caloric restriction gene.
• Helps maintain normal blood glucose levels.

Active Silueta, a dietary supplement based on Resveratrol and phytonutrients that contribute to weight loss.
Contains chrome.

Other components of this formulation are:

Green tea (Camellia sinensis).
Green tea leaves are rich in polyphenols, among which catechins stand out, the most abundant being epigallocatechinagallate (EGCG) with high antioxidant power.
Catechins have been shown to be effective as an adjuvant in the treatment of overweight.
These molecules appear to bind to macronutrients (especially lipids) in the gut, causing a decrease in their absorption and, as a result, weight loss.

Garcinia cambogia, whose active component, hydroxycitric acid, is responsible for the effects of reducing body weight, satiety and inhibiting lipid synthesis.
Its action is carried out by inhibiting the action of ATP citrate-lyase, which reduces the synthesis of acetyl-CoA and, consequently, the biosynthesis of triglycerides, cholesterol, phospholipids and free fatty acids.
The beneficial effects are materialized in a reduction in food intake and an increase in glycogen concentration in skeletal muscle and other tissues.
Several studies suggest positive results on the effectiveness of garcinia in the weight loss process.
In addition, unlike other stimulant substances commonly used in weight loss products, garcinia cambogia does not act on the central nervous system, so it does not cause insomnia, nervousness, or alterations in blood pressure or heart rhythm.

Wakame algae (Undaria pinnatifida) contains a type of carotenoid called Fucoxanthin, which appears to increase the expression of the uncoupling protein UCP1 in white adipose tissue, which may contribute to the reduction of fat tissue.
Typically, UCP1 is expressed only in brown adipose tissue, being a key molecule for metabolic thermogenesis and excess fat accumulation.
Because there is little brown adipose tissue in adults, the expression of UCP1 in non-brown fatty tissues may be favorable for the reduction of abdominal fat.

Chromium picolinate is a trace mineral that helps maintain normal blood glucose levels.
Chromium is an essential mineral for carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.
A randomized clinical trial found modest beneficial effects of chromium supplementation on insulin resistance as indicated by HOMA-IR and lipid profile.
A systematic review on the effect of chromium supplementation on oxidative stress indices showed that chromium decreased oxidative stress in diabetes mellitus.

Conclusion

Throughout human history, we have gone from the imperative need to provide ourselves with our own food through hunting, fishing and gathering fruits, to the opposite extreme, as is the case today, where the hyperabundance of foods – generally very high in calories – has become the norm.
This affects a phenotype that is not genetically prepared to deal with these excesses and whose result is the concentration of fat tissue and that becomes obesity.

From Salengei we recommend a healthy lifestyle, basing our diet on a balance of nutrients, placing great emphasis on foods of natural origin, supplements and/or supplements of high quality and according to individual deficiencies and without forgetting physical exercise.
That is why we developed Active Silueta as a natural and effective way to alleviate the disadvantageous effects of the imperious accumulation of fat tissue.
And because our products work on several levels, this supplement not only helps to reduce fat tissue, but also works to improve mood and psychic behaviors associated with excessive weight gain.