CM3 Alginate cellulose fiber capsules do not reduce appetite or delay gastric emptying

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Thursday, August 28, 2008 1:50 pm Email this article
A product called CM3 Alginate, which is highly cross-linked cellulose, is being sold as a weight loss product. A new study from Germany reveals that it does not work.

"In obese subjects, acute administration of the weight-loss supplement CM3 does not delay gastric emptying and does not influence subjective appetite sensations." What is CM3?

CM3 is a highly cross-linked cellulose

“CM3, a highly cross-linked cellulose in capsule form, expands in the stomach to a size several fold of its original volume,” the paper notes.

“It is purported to induce a prolonged feeling of satiation and a delay in gastric emptying, thus promoting weight loss.”

 

Subjects

Subjects: 19 obese people

The study involved “19 moderately obese but otherwise healthy subjects” who, on average, were 55-years-old and had a body mass index (BMI) of 31.

 

Dose

Dose: 6 capsules 30 minutes before a meal

Subjects were given either 6 capsules of CM3 or a placebo, 30 minutes before a meal.

 

Results

Results: No effect on appetite

There were no effects on hunger, satiation, fullness, additional food consumption, or desire to eat.

 

Comment #1

Comment: In 1994, I wrote that cellulose does not cause weight loss

Fourteen years ago, in my first book The New Diet Pills (Pragmatic Press, 1994) I included a chapter on fiber, and wrote that cellulose does not cause weight loss.

“Cellulose is effective at treating constipation and has the advantage over psyllium of not causing gas. However, cellulose does not cause weight loss, reduce cholesterol, or reduce blood sugar levels. Cellulose is found in the over-the-counter bulk laxative called Citrucel. Cellulose is a water-insoluble fiber found in whole wheat flour, bran, cabbage, peas, beans, apples, and root vegetables. Cellulose is not recommended for losing weight.”

—Larry Hobbs, The New Diet Pills, Pragmatic Press, 1994, Chapter 6, Fiber Supplements, page 82, last paragraph

 

Comment #2

Comment #2: Try glucomannan or guar gum instead

Don’t waste your money on CM3. It doesn’t work.

If you want to try a fiber supplement to help you lose weight, try glucomannan or guar gum instead.

There are studies to back these up. The weight loss is not enormous, but they tend to help when a person is dieting.

REFERENCE

Heiner K. Berthold SU, Ralf Degenhardt, Martin Unverdorben And Ioanna Gouni-Berthold. Effect of a cellulose-containing weight-loss supplement on gastric emptying and sensory functions. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2008 July 24, 16(8):published early on-line.

AUTHOR’S CONTACT INFORMATION

Heiner K. Berthold
Department of Clinical Pharmacology
Institute for Clinical Research
Center for Cardiovascular Diseases
Rotenburg an der Fulda, Germany
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