Fat reducing effects of Nelumbo nucifera leaf extract in overweight patients

The leaf of Nelumbo nucifera (Family Nelumbonaceae) has been widely included in the diet of Chinese people from the time of the Min Dynasty. In this study, a randomized double-blind trial (n = 60) was performed to determine the effects of extract from sun dried Nelumbo nucifera leaves (NnEx), which included quercetin-3-glucuronide (Q3GA) as the main components, in overweight patients (24 kg/m²2) during 12 weeks. For both men and women, compared with those in the non-intervention control groups, the whole body fat was significantly decreased after NnEx ingestion, and men also significantly reduced visceral fat and waist circumference after NnEx ingestion compared with those in the control group.