Evaluation on the Effects of Tamarindus Indica L. Fruit on Body Weight and Several Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Obese and Overweight Adult Patients: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND: Animal studies have shown the anti-obesity effects of Tamarindus indica L. (tamarind) fruit pulp. This study aimed to evaluate the weight-reducing effects of T. indica L. fruit as well as its blood pressure- and lipid-lowering effects in a clinical trial. METHODS: In a randomized controlled clinical trial, obese and overweight patients were randomly and equally assigned to tamarind and control groups. Both groups were instructed proper diet and maintaining physical activity for 6 weeks. Furthermore, the participants of tamarind group were instructed to consume 10 grams of tamarind fruit pulp twice daily with meals for the same period. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), fasting serum levels of glucose (fasting plasma glucose, FPG), total cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were determined and recorded for all patients pre- and post-intervention. RESULTS: Twenty patients in each group completed the study. Tamarind significantly reduced BMI, WC, LDL-C, SBP, and DBP compared to baseline. However, none of these effects were statistically significant compared to control group. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of tamarind fruit pulp with daily dose of 20 g has no significant effects on body weight, waist circumference, serum lipid profile, blood glucose, and blood pressure.