@article{Yamada2026, 
author = {Hiroaki Yamada and Yusuke Yamashita and Xuan Li and Kenji Sato and Saki Shirako and Mariko Hirata and Jun Kawamura and Yumeo Suzuki and Yoshito Tsuruha and Tsuyoshi Takara and Young-il Kim},
title = {Effects of tamarind seed husk extract on abdominal visceral fat: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in Japanese adults with mild obesity},
year = {2026},
journal = {Journal of Food Bioactives},
volume = {35},
pages = {69-80},
keywords = {Tamarind seed husk, Procyanidin, Visceral fat, Randomized controlled trial, Polyphenol},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/JFB.2026.95035457},
doi = {10.26599/JFB.2026.95035457},
abstract = {Tamarind seed husk, a by-product of gum production, is rich in polyphenols. We examined whether tamarind seed husk extract (TSHE) reduces abdominal visceral fat area (AVFA) in Japanese adults with mild obesity. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (UMIN000057223), 112 adults (25 ≤ BMI < 30 kg/m2) received TSHE (200 mg/day) or placebo for 12 weeks. AVFA at week 12, the primary outcome, was lower but not significantly (p = 0.077). AVFA was already significantly lower at week 4, and the percent reduction in total fat area was significant at weeks 8 and 12. Reductions were greater in participants with a baseline visceral-to-subcutaneous fat ratio ≥ 0.4. No adverse events occurred, indicating that TSHE is safe as a food ingredient. This is the first clinical trial to show that TSHE (200 mg/day) reduces visceral fat in mildly obese adults with a visceral-to-subcutaneous fat ratio ≥ 0.4.}
}