Consumption of Dehulled Adlay Improved Lipid Metabolism and Inflammation in Overweight and Obese Individuals after a 6-Week Single-Arm Pilot Study

Obesity is a major public health concern worldwide with a rising prevalence. Diets containing whole grains have been demonstrated to benefit body composition and inflammatory conditions in individuals at a high risk of metabolic disorders. This study investigated the effects of dehulled adlay on blood lipids and inflammation in overweight and obese adults. We recruited 21 individuals with abdominal obesity to participate in a 6-week experiment, providing them 60 g of dehulled adlay powder per day as a substitute for their daily staple. Before and after the 6-week intervention, we performed anthropometric analyses and measured blood lipid profiles, adipokines, and markers of inflammation. At the end of the study, the percentage of body fat mass, blood total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were significantly decreased compared with the baseline. Plasma tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6, leptin, and malondialdehyde levels were also reduced. In addition, participants with higher basal blood lipid levels exhibited enhanced lipid lowering effects after the dehulled adlay intervention. These results suggest that a dietary pattern containing 60 g of dehulled adlay per day may have a beneficial effect on lipid profiles and inflammatory markers in individuals that are overweight and obese.