7 replies to this topic

[shuffleup]

I searched this board for posts on sesamin and came up very short on hits. Any opinions on this supplement for general health, weight loss, cholesterol/tg reduction? As well as safety?

Thx!

[saxiephon]

Shuffleup: I found the following:


Sesamin - Or Sesame Lignan

Sesamin is a lignan isolated from sesame seeds. As a lignan is a molecule that combines with another entity acting as an “activator”, sesamin binds to and activates a receptor called Peroxisome Proliferator-Activator Receptor Alpha (PPARalpha). These receptors are involved in regulation of lipid metabolism, specifically the transcription of the genes involved in the beta-oxidation of fatty acids and lipogenesis, as well as fat oxidation in the mitochondria and the peroxisomes of cells by increasing the expression of enzymes involved in beta-oxidation of fatty acids.
In fact, the interaction of sesamin, and various types of dietary fats has been studied in rats in order to establish if it affects hepatic fatty acid oxidation.
Fatty acid oxidation
In the Division of Food Functionality, and the National Food Research Institute in Japan, rats were fed purified experimental diets supplemented with 0% or 0.2% sesamin (1:1 mixture of sesamin and episesamin), and containing 8% of either palm, safflower or fish oil for 15 days.
Among the groups fed sesamin-free diets, the activity of various fatty acid oxidation enzymes was higher in rats fed fish oil than in those fed palm and safflower oils. However, dietary sesamin increased enzyme activities in all groups of rats given different fats, depending on dietary fat type. But in all cases, the diet containing sesamin and fish oil in combination appeared to increase many of these activities synergistically. So these final results allowed the experts to elaborate some positive conclusions about this combination of sesamin and its action over fatty acid oxidation.
Another similar trial was performed in the Laboratory of Nutrition Biochemistry and the National Food Research Institute, also in Japan. Oxidation was examined in rats that were fed experimental diets containing various amounts (0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.5%) of sesamin (a 1:1 mixture of sesamin and episesamin) for 15 days. Finally, dietary sesamin dose-dependently increased both mitochondrial and peroxisomal palmitoyl-coenzyme A (CoA) oxidation rates. Furthermore, mitochondrial activity almost doubled in rats on the 0.5% sesamin diet. Peroxisomal activity also increased more than 10-fold in rats fed a 0.5% sesamin diet in relation to rats on the sesamin-free diet. Once again, dietary sesamin greatly increased the hepatic activity of fatty acid oxidation enzymes, including carnitine palmitoyltransferase, acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, acyl-CoA oxidase, 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, enoyl-CoA hydratase, and 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase.
According to many researchers, another possible combination in order to increase this type of processes is related to conjugate linoleic acid (CLA). Japanese scientists studied whether dietary manipulations could enhance the effects of this substance over fat loss, and they found that sesamin helped stimulate the loss of adipose tissue. So it is possible that sesame lignans increase CLA ’s effects by stimulating a pathway of fatty acid breakdown called beta-oxidation. This combination may be also effective in lowering serum triglycerides, since the enhanced fatty-acid oxidation that sesamin promotes in the liver may be responsible for some triglyceride-lowering effect.
Dosage
As sesamin dosing ranges have not been established, and a few cases of sesamin allergies have been reported, the most advisable would be using it according to what is indicated on the product label. In addition, it may be also contraindicated with diuretic medications. So, of course, the advice and control of a qualified physician is necessary, just like with any other supplement.
It is also worth to make clear that the effects can vary from person to person because of genetic differences. However, sesamin is stimulant-free, so there’s no “rebound” weight gain or water retention once stop using it. In part because of that, healthy adults consider sesamin a safe nutritional supplement for use.

[lucid]

http://www.pubmedcen...z&artid=1705523

Sesamin alone did not affect the elevation of the diet-induced cholesterol level and it did not enhance the effect of stanol ester.

That is the only good study I found on it.

[shuffleup]

Thanks guys. I'll look these over.

[maxwatt]

It is known to inhibit delta-5 desaturase. You might therefore want to supplement with EPA if you use it. It may contribute to fat loss, but it is also a potent anti-oxidant. Sesame oil does not get rancid so quickly as other unsaturated oils.

[wayside]

If you go to www.lef.org and put "sesame lignan" in the search engine, you will get links to numerous articles about it and products that incorporate it.

Basically, it seems to enhance the effect of other supplements such as omega-3 and vitamin E.

[checkinguy1]

You can get sesame spread in the supermarket - Tahini. I make a Salmon sandwich once or so a week
and use tahini as a spread on the bread for its mentioned synergistic effects with omega 3's.

[Shepard]

There is some good info if you search back a couple of years at Mind & Muscle.