Sesamin- anyone using it?

[Amy]

What are your thoughts on Sesamin. Does it improve insulin sensitivity?

[Noel Clark]

Not using it myself but this is what I find on it

In general, sesame oil is believed to be a healthy food in Asian countries. This reputation has been attached to Sesamin, which also has gained a reputation in the holistic market as being a viable weight loss agent-but is this fact or fiction? The concept behind the use of this element is relatively straightforward. Product developers and manufactures will point to the fact that many people have a relatively easy time losing weight in the early stages of a diet plan; however, some will then begin to plateau, due to the loss of fat burning enzymes. They indicate that Sesamin can help reverse this process by signaling the body to stop storing fat and encourage it to begin burning it. However, there is little concrete research available to support this claim.

[Erik]

Sesamin is a lignan - a PPAR-alpha agonist – which regulates cAMP (cyclic AMP) which in turn functions to improves fat oxidation and decreases fat storage.

Hence the fat-loss marketing claims.

However, I am not sure if there are human trials showing this or if it's still just in rats, or simply theorized.

I believe it can also have anti-androgenic properties due to some kind of downregulation of luteinizing hormone (PPAR mediated as well) and subsequently testosterone. I know I've come across people on a forum I was on years ago (guys mainly) when this first hit the market who have commented on the hit they took to their libidos, etc. as a result of its use.

It is supposed to have some good anti oxidant properties though. And there are claims of anti-inflammatory benefits as well as cholesterol-lowering benefits.

The insulin sensitivity improvement claims come from research on obese rats however. Not human trials.

I'd personally pass. I tried it a couple years ago. Didn't notice anything positive or negative.

[Amy]

Thanks!! :wink: