Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The current approach to obesity care, which primarily focuses on weight loss, is often insufficient because of the challenges in maintaining long-term results. Therefore, novel, safe, and sustainable medications for obesity are highly anticipated. Taxifolin, a natural bioactive flavonoid, was found to exert pleiotropic protective effects against various diseases. Our experimental in vivo and in vitro studies revealed that taxifolin administration contributes to weight loss. Accordingly, we hypothesized that long-term oral intake of taxifolin was clinically associated with weight loss. METHODS: A retrospective longitudinal study was conducted on participants who consistently monitored their body weight during routine clinic visits between January 2021 and July 2021. Body weight changes of the patients who received 300 mg/day of taxifolin were compared with those of patients who did not receive taxifolin. RESULTS: The study enrolled a total of 62 patients: 36 received taxifolin and 26 did not receive taxifolin. Long-term intake of taxifolin showed greater weight loss than those not receiving taxifolin over a mean follow-up of 176.1 and 177.7 days, respectively (-1.6 vs. -0.3 kg; p = 0.026). Furthermore, long-term taxifolin intake was an independent predictor of increased weight loss (adjusted β [mean difference] -0.14, 95% confidence interval [-2.69, -0.18], p = 0.026). No adverse events were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term daily oral intake of taxifolin may safely and sustainably prevent or manage obesity.