On the binding ratio of α-cyclodextrin to dietary fat in humans

KL Catherine Jen,^1,2 George Grunberger,³ Joseph D Artiss<sup>2,4

1</sup>Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA; ²ArtJen Complexus Inc, Windsor, ON, Canada; ³The Grunberger Diabetes Institute, Bloomfield Hills, MI, USA; ⁴Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA

Abstract: α-Cyclodextrin (α-CD), a soluble dietary fiber, has been shown to bind and eliminate nine times of its own weight in dietary fat. Studies with different animal models have reported that α-CD preferentially binds saturated fatty acids, reducing saturated and trans fatty acid levels in blood. A clinical trial demonstrated that α-CD prevented weight gain in obese diabetic patients. The present study was designed to examine whether α-CD also shows a preference in binding saturated fatty acids in humans and to confirm the 1:9 binding ratio in humans. Sixty-six obese diabetic patients were recruited at the beginning of this 3-month, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study. Patients were randomly assigned to the Active or Placebo group. Blood samples and 3-day dietary records were collected at baseline and at the end of months 1, 2, and 3. A bottle of 180 tablets of active or placebo tablets was dispensed to each participant at the beginning of each month. Dietary records were analyzed using The Food Processor software. It was observed that α-CD has a higher affinity towards saturated fats than to unsaturated fats. Participants with higher intakes of total and saturated fat lost more weight than those with lower intakes (P < 0.05 and < 0.01, respectively). These data support the earlier observation in both in vitro and animal studies that α-CD binds with dietary fat in a 1:9 ratio and further demonstrate the efficacy of α-CD in binding to and eliminating dietary fat, especially saturated fats. α-CD may play a significant role in reducing blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels as well as stopping chronic weight gain.

Keywords: FBCx^®, fat binding capacity, 1:9 binding ratio, reducing blood cholesterol levels, saturated, dietary analysis