Hello,

White kidney bean extract might be helpful for weight loss, when taken with meals, particularly starchy meals.

Please! Spare me suggestions about other weight loss products and methods. Been there. Done that.

The chemical name of the active ingredient is phaseolamin, apparently.

It's sold as a proprietary product under various brand names, including "Phase 2" The proprietary product claims to be stabilized and standardized.

This stuff would be expensive if I took two tablets every day with every meal.

I wonder if it would be possible to get the same benefit by simply eating white kidney beans with each meal. You could cook it up as a batch, and prepare it in various ways -- like humus, like a sweet bean paste, mix it with peanut butter, and so on. Have some with each meal. I'd be okay with that.

But then... It looks like it's a protein. Most proteins are denatured by cooking or boiling. I don't have any idea how much I'd have to eat to get about 1 gram of Phaseolamin.

I imagine the information exists somewhere.

Anybody know about this?


Cheers,


Barabajagal

Hi Barabajagal,

Here is a safety report on white kidney beans this will at least give you some idea of safety for this product.


Titre du document / Document title
Subchronic oral toxicity of a standardized white kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) extract in rats
Auteur(s) / Author(s)
CHOKSHI Dilip (1) ;
Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)
(1) Pharmachem Laboratories, Inc., 265 Harrison Avenue, Kearny, NJ 07032, ETATS-UNIS
Résumé / Abstract
Dietary supplements containing "starch blockers" are believed to reduce carbohydrate-derived calories by interfering with α-amylase, the digestive enzyme responsible for conversion of complex carbohydrates to simple, absorbable sugars. The present paper reports the findings of a 28-day oral toxicity study in rats of Phase 2®, a standardized extract derived from the common white kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), which has been shown to have α-amylase-inhibiting activity. In order to establish safety, eighty male and female Sprague-Dawley rats (10 animals/sex/group) received Phase 2® via oral gavage at doses of 0, 625, 1250, and 2500 mg/kg (7 days/wk) for a period of 31 (males) or 32 (females) days. There were no mortalities, clinical signs, body weight or nutritional effects, gross alterations, clinical or histopathological alterations that were considered attributable to test substance administration. Under conditions of this study and based on toxicological endpoints evaluated, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of Phase 2® was judged to be 2500 mg/kg/day in each sex for administration by oral gavage of a standardized white kidney bean extract, Phase 2® for 28 days.
Revue / Journal Title
Food and chemical toxicology ISSN 0278-6915 CODEN FCTOD7
Source / Source
2007, vol. 45, no1, pp. 32-40 [9 page(s) (article)] (3/4 p.)


There is no good research available at this time for this product, this is probably the closest thing to acceptable research, meaning of a high standard and not just opinion. White bean extract needs a lot more research yielding positive results before it could be accepted as being good for this purpose, at the moment it is merely showing promise, if, and only if, no bias has been introduced.

Use of Phaseolamin (white kidney bean extract) Starch Neutralizer� brand bean extract for weight loss: a randomized controlled trial

Background: The Phaseolamin (white kidney bean extract) starch neutralizer brand bean extract product is a water-extract of a common white bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris), which has been shown in vitro to inhibit the digestive enzyme alpha-amylase. Alpha-Amylase is secreted in saliva and by the pancreas and is responsible for breaking down starch into simple sugars which can then be absorbed in the small intestine. Blocking this digestive enzyme prevents the digestion of complex carbohydrates and they pass undigested through the Gastrointestinal tract. The end result is a decrease in the number of calories absorbed, potentially promoting weight loss.

Methods: Fifty obese adults (body mass index 30-43 kg/m) were screened to participate in a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the effects of treatment with the Phaseolamin (white kidney bean extract) Starch Neutralizer�-brand bean extract (Pharmachem Laboratories, Inc.) vs. placebo on weight loss. It was hypothesized that ingestion of the Phaseolamin (white kidney bean extract) product (a non-stimulant alpha amylase inhibitor) concurrent with meals would reduce the total amount of calories absorbed and would result in weight loss. In addition, by reducing the amount of simple sugars absorbed and delivered to the liver, this process would reduce the amount of Triglycerides produced by the liver.

Participants were randomized to receive either 1500mg of Phaseolamin (white kidney bean extract) or an identical placebo twice a day with meals. Subjects were asked to maintain a high fiber, low fat, controlled diet that included 100 to 200g of carbohydrates per day. Subjects were asked not to change their current exercise regimen during the study. The active study period was 8 weeks. Thirty-nine subjects completed the initial screening process and twenty-seven subjects completed the study.

Results: The study results at 8 weeks demonstrated that the active (Phaseolamin) group lost an average of 3.79 pounds total (average of 0.47 pounds per week) compared with the placebo group which lost an average of 1.65 pounds total (average of 0.21 pounds per week). The difference is 129% with a p-value of 0.35. Subjects in the Phaseolamin (white kidney bean extract) group decreased their waist size by an average of 1.46 inches at 8 weeks, which was 36% greater than the placebo group which lost an average of 1.07 inches off their waist (p=0.43). Energy level, as measured by a 10-point Likert scale, increased by 13%, from 4.8 to 6.2, in the Phaseolamin (white kidney bean extract) group, and did not change at all in the placebo group (p=0.20). Triglyceride levels in the Phaseolamin (white kidney bean extract) group were reduced by an average of 26.3 mg/dl, which was 224% more than the 8.1mg/dl drop seen in the placebo group (p=0.07). Several secondary test parameters, including hip size, body fat, appetite control, hunger, HbA1C and total cholesterol were also measured. None of these secondary outcomes demonstrated statistically significant differences between groups.

Safety: There were no reported adverse events during the study. Only one subject in each group dropped out due to side effects. The placebo subject who dropped out complained of pain, bloating, and gas. The Phaseolamin (white kidney bean extract) subject who dropped out complained of an increase in the frequency of her tension headaches. Safety data including electrolytes, and kidney and liver function tests showed no clinically or statistically significant changes in either group.

Conclusion: Clinical trends were identified for weight loss, inches lost from the waist, energy, and decrease in Triglycerides, although statistical significance was not reached. The reason that significance was not achieved was the small number of subjects who completed the study and the wide variability of the results within each group. Further studies with larger numbers of subjects are necessary in order to definitively demonstrate effectiveness. In conclusion, the Phaseolamin (white kidney bean extract) product demonstrates clinical differences in several clinically relevant variables and shows promise as an adjunctive therapy in the treatment of Obesity and Hypertriglyceridemia.

NOTICE: Please note that this executive summary/abstract represents the final report on the Phaseolamin (white kidney bean extract) research data. At client's request preliminary results and information was provided to client or its representatives or designees in several communications including correspondences, presentations, and handouts. Client understood and agreed that such information was preliminary and was not presented for further dissemination or reliance. We are not responsible for any misuse of or reliance upon the preliminary information and Client shall hold harmless and defend Integrative Health and Research and Jay Udani, MD against any cost, claim or damage asserted by any person asserting injury arising from the use or dissemination of the preliminary information. This current report replaces and supercedes all prior preliminary communications. The conclusions and data stated within this final report are the ONLY conclusions and data intended by Integrative Health and Research and/or Jay Udani, MD, unless otherwise revised or updated by Integrative Health and Research and/or Jay Udani, MD. Client is advised that the information contained in this report may be inconsistent with or conflict with the preliminary information previously provided.

Jay Udani, MD Clinical Instructor, UCLA School of Medicine Medical Director, Integrative Medicine Program, Northridge Hospital

Mary Hardy, MD Director, Cedars-Sinai Integrative Medicine Medical Group Assistant Clinical Professor, USC School of Medicine

Damian C. Madsen, B.A. Senior Clinical Research Coordinator California Neuroscience Research Medical Group

Cheers

Thanks, John.

A very sensible and responsible comment. Also diligent. It seems like you invested some time in that. I appreciate it.

I'm kind of diligent myself. I'd already read that information, and more. It seems harmless. I'm willing to spend money on the commercial product for a month or two. I don't lose weight easily, so if I lose a few pounds, I will definitely notice. It appears there is some reason for hope, even though most of these "breakthrough" discoveries turn out to be mirages.

I'd sure like to know if I can cook my own white kidney beans to get the same benefit as the commercial product.

Anybody know?


Cheers,


Barabajagal

Sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders buddy, go for it.

Cheers