Gastrointestinal delivery of bitter hop extract reduces appetite and food cravings in healthy adult women undergoing acute fasting.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Randomized, double-blind, crossover trial in humans
PubMed 39071168 · doi:10.1016/j.obpill.2024.100117
What was done
A randomized, double-blind, crossover trial evaluated the effect of a bitter hop extract (Amarasate®) on appetite and food cravings in 30 adult women during a 24-hour water-only fast across three occasions. Participants received placebo, a low dose (125 mg), or a high dose (250 mg) twice daily at 16 and 20 hours into the fast, followed by an ad libitum meal at 24 hours.
What was found
Both the high-dose and low-dose treatments exhibited a statistically significant reduction in appetite and cravings for food compared to placebo (p < 0.05). Exact numerical scores and ad libitum caloric intake were not reported in the abstract. Reported adverse events were loose stools (2 on high dose, 1 on low dose) and heartburn (1 on high dose).
Why it matters
This study indicates that bitter hop compounds targeted to the gastrointestinal tract can acutely suppress appetite and cravings in women during fasting.
Limits
The sample size was small (n = 30) and restricted to healthy women during acute 24-hour fasts. The abstract does not provide numerical effect sizes, variance estimates, or food intake measurements from the ad libitum meal, and long-term efficacy or weight-loss outcomes were not assessed.
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