The acute metabolic impacts of Kaempferia parviflora extract in healthy men: a randomized, double-blind, proof-of-concept study

Obesity and related comorbidities represent a growing global health concern. This study assessed the effects of GyngerLean™, a supplement containing Zingiber officinale (yellow ginger), Alpinia galanga (red ginger), and Kaempferia parviflora (black ginger), on energy expenditure and substrate utilization. Ten healthy adult males participated in this randomized, double-blind, two-dose crossover trial. Participants received either 100 mg or 200 mg doses of GyngerLean™ with a minimum 24-hour washout period between visits. Resting energy expenditure (REE) and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were measured at baseline and at 60-, 120-, and 180-minutes post-supplementation using indirect calorimetry. No significant differences were observed at baseline between the 100 mg and 200 mg doses for REE (100 mg: 2203±497 kcal vs. 200 mg: 2454±501 kcal; p=0.2408) or RER (100 mg: 0.79±0.09 vs. 200 mg: 0.81±0.04; p=0.4911). The 100 mg dose showed no significant changes in REE or RER over time. For the 200 mg dose, REE remained stable across all timepoints, but RER decreased significantly at 120 minutes (0.77±0.05, p=0.0158) and 180 minutes (0.75±0.04, p=0.0004) post-consumption compared to baseline, indicating increased fat oxidation relative to carbohydrate oxidation. Acute ingestion of 200 mg GyngerLean™ significantly enhanced fat oxidation in healthy men without affecting overall energy expenditure. These findings suggest the potential role of ginger extracts in promoting metabolic changes that could support weight and body composition management [1] [2]. Future research should investigate whether chronic supplementation would affect weight and body composition and explore the underlying mechanisms through which ginger influences substrate utilization.