ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: Adolescent obesity is often characterized by comorbidities with cardiovascular effects in adulthood. Treatment options for these conditions are limited during adolescence. Basic research in animals and clinical data in adults have shown that Crocus Sativus (Krokos Kozanis) has a beneficial effect on dyslipidemia, obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Aim: The study of the lipidemic profile in fasting state, in adolescents with obesity, before and after oral administration of Krokos Kozanis, as a dietary supplement for a total period of 12 weeks.

Material & Method: Twenty-eight adolescents, aged 13.51±1.78 year old, with simple obesity without organic etiology, were studied in our Unit, for a period of 12 weeks. All patients, received nutritional consultation from a clinical dietitian and were thereafter randomized into two groups in order to receive (Study Group) or not (Control Group) intervention with oral suspension of Krokos Kozanis (30 mg twice daily). Fasting lipidemic profile of all participants was assessed at the beginning and at the end of the study.

Results: After initial randomization, the two groups did not differ in terms of gender, age, Tanner stage and body mass index (BMI). At the beginning of the study, lipidemic profile of participants between the two groups did not differ in any lipid parameter (total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDl, LDl, non-HDL cholesterol) (Table). After 12 weeks of intervention, Study Group presented a declining trend in all lipidemic parameters with a statistically significant reduction in total cholesterol levels (P=0.05), triglycerides levels (P=0.012) and non-HDL cholesterol levels (P=0.008). Control Group did not significantly change lipidemic profile in any parameter after the study period. The change (delta) of non-HDL cholesterol levels within the same study group, during the study period, was significantly higher in the Study Group compared to the Control Group (P=0.009).

Conclusions: The use of Krokos Kozanis as a dietary supplement in combination with nutritional consultation, improves lipidemic profile of adolescents with obesity.