Daily supplementation with 5g of green-plant membranes for 12 weeks led to significantly greater weight loss (5.0 kg vs 3.5 kg), reduced cholesterol, increased GLP-1 release, and decreased cravings for sweets in overweight women compared to placebo.
5.0 kg vs 3.5 kg weight lossWomen taking 5g of green-plant membranes daily before breakfast lost significantly more weight than the placebo group over 12 weeks (p < 0.01), alongside increased GLP-1 release.
What the researchers found
Over 12 weeks, the green-plant membrane group lost significantly more weight than placebo (5.0 ± 2.3 kg vs 3.5 ± 2.3 kg, p < 0.01). The supplement also significantly reduced total cholesterol (p < 0.01) and LDL cholesterol (p < 0.05) compared to control.
Single-meal tests on days 1 and 90 showed the supplement group had increased postprandial GLP-1 release and decreased urge for sweet and chocolate on both occasions. This effect was consistent from the first day through the end of the study.
Waist circumference, body fat, and leptin decreased in both groups over the study period, but there were no significant between-group differences for these measures. The authors propose that increased GLP-1 release may be the primary mechanism behind the weight loss and appetite effects.
Why it matters
This study connects a natural dietary supplement to GLP-1 release — the same peptide pathway that GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs (like semaglutide) target for weight loss. Finding a food-based approach that naturally increases GLP-1 secretion could offer a complementary or alternative strategy for weight management, particularly for people who cannot access or tolerate pharmaceutical GLP-1 therapies.
How the study worked
This was a single-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial. 38 overweight women (BMI 25-33 kg/m², ages 40-65) were randomized to receive either 5g of green-plant membranes or placebo once daily before breakfast for 12 weeks. All participants were instructed to follow a three-meal pattern with no snacking and to increase physical activity. Body weight was measured every 3 weeks, along with blood glucose and lipid parameters. On days 1 and 90, standardized breakfast tests measured plasma glucose, insulin, and GLP-1, plus subjective hunger, satiety, and food cravings via visual analogue scales.
What this study cannot tell us
The sample size of 38 women is small and limits statistical power. The study was single-blind (not double-blind), which could introduce observer bias. Only women aged 40-65 were included, so results may not generalize to men or other age groups. All participants were also instructed to follow dietary and exercise guidelines, making it difficult to isolate the supplement's independent effect. The 12-week duration doesn't address long-term weight maintenance. The specific GLP-1 increase was not quantified in the abstract.
How to read the evidence
This is a small randomized placebo-controlled trial in humans, which provides moderate-quality evidence. The single-blind design and small sample size (n=38) are limitations, but the randomized controlled design and consistent results across multiple endpoints strengthen the findings.
When this study was published
Published in 2014, this study predates the current boom in GLP-1 research driven by semaglutide and similar drugs. Its findings about natural GLP-1 stimulation have gained renewed relevance in the context of widespread GLP-1 agonist use.
The bigger picture
With GLP-1 receptor agonists becoming blockbuster drugs for obesity and diabetes, there is growing interest in natural approaches that stimulate endogenous GLP-1 release. This study suggests that green-plant membranes, which slow fat digestion in the small intestine, can boost the body's own GLP-1 production. While the effect is modest compared to pharmaceutical GLP-1 agonists, a dietary approach that enhances natural satiety signaling could be valuable as part of a broader weight management strategy.
Questions still open
- How does the magnitude of GLP-1 increase from green-plant membranes compare to pharmaceutical GLP-1 receptor agonists?
- Would the weight loss and GLP-1 effects persist beyond 12 weeks, or would tolerance develop?
- Could green-plant membrane supplementation be combined with GLP-1 agonist drugs for enhanced effects?
Common questions
What are green-plant membranes and how do they work?
Is this the same GLP-1 that drugs like Ozempic target?
Read the original research
Body weight loss, reduced urge for palatable food and increased release of GLP-1 through daily supplementation with green-plant membranes for three months in overweight women.
Appetite, 81, 295-304
Citation
Montelius, Caroline; Erlandsson, Daniel; Vitija, Egzona; Stenblom, Eva-Lena; Egecioglu, Emil; Erlanson-Albertsson, Charlotte. (2014). Body weight loss, reduced urge for palatable food and increased release of GLP-1 through daily supplementation with green-plant membranes for three months in overweight women.. Appetite, 81, 295-304. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2014.06.101