So, does glucomannan work for weight loss? The evidence so far shows the results are mixed, but there is good reason to be hopeful. Harmless and reasonably useless, it made a splash in the early part of the 2000’s without landing its proponent in very much legal trouble, and it remains fairly well known today, partly thanks to a seemingly perpetual ad campaign that never uses the word ‘glucomannan.’ One study is Asian, but like much of the other research focuses on the use of glucomannan in animal feed. This means when consumed as part of a healthy, active lifestyle, glucomannan can be hugely helpful in reducing the risk of heart disease and cardiovascular disease. 3. Glucomannan appears to ease constipation But, the study was of glucomannan mixed with aronia or chokecherry juice, which was being touted with mixed success as a new ‘super berry’.

Interestingly, another study followed a similar pattern but noted that the beneficial impacts on cholesterol levels were particularly noticeable in female participants when compared to males. They found that total cholesterol in their study group fell by 24% in females over the course of 8 weeks but only by a still-impressive 9% in males. LDL cholesterol levels also fell by 30% in female participants when compared to 9% in males. On the other hand, the probiotics, mainly lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, are indicated for their anti-colorectal cancer function through binding to the mutagens, inhibiting the activity of β-glucuronidase, and reducing the level of carcinogenic secondary bile acid ( Wu et al., 2011a; Chong, 2013). In various studies, glucomannan is shown to enhance the content of probiotics and its metabolic products, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), in feces ( Mizutani and Mitsuoka, 1982; Ikegami et al., 1984; Yeh et al., 2007; Wu and Chen, 2011b; Wu et al., 2011a; Chong, 2013; Wu et al., 2014; Quezada et al., 2017). SCFAs promote the functionality of normal intestinal epithelium and the gut integrity ( Chong, 2013); also, they stimulate cell differentiation program and induce apoptosis of transformed cells ( Kumano et al., 1985; Yeh et al., 2007; Chong, 2013). Taken together, these results suggest that glucomannan could indirectly promote an environment that is unfavorable for cancer development, at least in the gastroenterological system ( Figure 2). Glucomannan Serves as a Targeted Carrier for Anti-Cancer Drug Delivery

Conflict of Interest Statement

Simply Supplements source the glucomannan fibre from industry-leading suppliers, to guarantee a constant level of purity is maintained across every capsule. Each individual glucomannan fibre capsule contains 500mg of glucomannan, making these some of the purest and most effective daily weight loss support supplements on the market.

However, two other studies did find evidence that glucomannan can help with weight loss. In one study, 20 obese subjects were given 1 gram of glucomannan before meals, and on average, they lost 5.5 pounds over eight weeks. A systematic review found that glucomannan can reduce appetite, which can help weight loss. However, two other studies ( this one and this one) have found that glucomannan supplementation can improve weight loss.Glucomannanabsorbs so much liquid that if you empty a capsule into a small glass of water, the entire thing turns into a gel. B ecause of this, it is important to take capsules with a full glass of water to safely and naturally assist weight loss. These Glucomannan capsules contribute towards weight loss when part of an energy-restricted diet. Glucomannan absorbs water in the stomach, and then expands to potentially up to 50 times its weight. Glucomannan is extremely high in fibre and therefore the dosage is lower compared to other fibre-based supplements. In adults, there is evidence that glucomannan can help increase bowel movements by 30%. In children, glucomannan has been found to relieve constipation, stomach pain, and bloating. 4. Glucomannan can help regulate blood glucose

It is believed that this occurs in a number of manners. Firstly, the way that glucomannan absorbs water and turns into a paste means that it can make us feel fuller when consumed a short while before eating. This is bolstered by the fact that glucomannan contains very little in the way of calories, further helping to restrict the intake of energy. There is further good news for people with diabetes mellitus. Glucomannan seems to reduce cholesterol and the risk of coronary heart disease in diabetes patients, too. Other Benefits of Glucomannan References to studies abound and are hard to untangle because ORI likes to refer to ‘ studies of Lipozene‘ (which don’t exist) instead of studies of glucomannan or konjac root, which do, although they are scarce. Rather than being an exotic rarity in Asia, konjac is widely used as it has several unique and convenient properties, at least the kind of properties useful in food processing. There is good evidence to suggest that glucomannan can help treat constipation. It’s a so-called ‘bulk-forming laxative’, which can help to ensure that everything in your gut moves as it should.

The Bottom Line on Glucomannan

Alternatively, in the gastric cancer cell lines SGC-7901 and AGS, investigators found that AKe treatment markedly increased the expression of LC3-II, which is a marker of the mature autophagosome and indicates high level of autophagy ( Chen et al., 2017a). Increased cell autophagy plays a protective role in early tumor development, with the possible mechanisms of autophagy-related stress elimination and even autophagy-induced cell death. Nassour et al. found that autophagy is an important cellular protective process to induce cell death during replicative crisis and impaired autophagy is required for initiation of tumorigenesis ( Nassour et al., 2019). Though the AKT/mTOR pathway may be related to the activation of the autophagic process ( Chen et al., 2014), there is no definite evidence showing the existence of the glucomannan-AKT/mTOR-autophagy axis in the tumor cells. Glucomannan Indirectly Affects Tumor Development Glucomannan Promotes Extrinsic Environment Disfavoring Tumorigenesis Findings showed that all three glucomannan groups had significant weight loss compared to placebo or diet groups. However there was little statistical difference between the three – participants in all three glucomannan groups lost approximately 0.8 kg (1.8 lbs) per week. Glucomannan also swells in the stomach when it reacts with liquids. This can cause a feeling of satiety. Konjac, or Amorphophallus konjac, has a few other names including konnyaku (yam cake) and Elephant Yam, although it is not related to true yams.