If you give lab rats a large quantity of vitamin D, quercetin, resveratrol and genistein, their fat reserves shrink and their bones become stronger. Researchers at the University of Georgia made the discovery. The researchers were headed by Clifton Baile, a scientist whose team has published a stream of fascinating studies on the effects of combinations of natural substances on body fat. They’ve published on substances like xanthohumol and guggulsterone. [J Med Food. 2009 Aug;12(4):846-53.] And also on genistein and guggulsterone. [Biofactors. 2007;30(3):159-69.] To say nothing of ajoene [a sulphur compound found in garlic] and CLA. [Apoptosis. 2007 Jun;12(6):1117-28.]
Lower down this page you’ll find links to articles on in-vitro studies in which Baile and his team exposed fat cells to substances including vitamin D, resveratrol, genistein and quercetin. In 2011 the researcher published an article in the Journal of Medicinal Food along much the same lines as the previous studies, only this time the study had been done on lab animals.
Female rats no longer capable of making estradiol were given standard food for eight weeks [Control], food containing extra vitamin D [Vit. D] or food containing not only vitamin D but also Low, Medium or High concentrations of resveratrol, genistein and quercetin.
The mix lowered the fat percentage and also made the bones stronger. The amount of bone-destroying osteoclasts in the supplementation groups had decreased after six weeks, as had the number of fat cells in the bone tissue.
Supplementation raised the IGF-1 concentration by a few dozen percent. This explains some of the effects observed. An additional explanation is that a diet rich in vitamin D and plant-derived substances such as resveratrol, genistein and quercetin ensures that more stem cells develop into bone cells and not into fat cells. [Mol Nutr Food Res. 2011 Aug;55(8):1177-85.]
“Most likely, multiple phytochemicals acting on numerous targets on adipocytes and osteoblasts simultaneously can achieve synergistic beneficial effects at a dose known to be well within safe ranges in humans”, the researchers conclude. “Although these treatments remain to be tested for efficacy for preventing weight gain and bone loss in menopausal women, we propose that the synergistic effects of a combination of phytochemicals with vitamin D would be effective in preventing or reducing bone loss after menopause.”
The concept of combining plant substances is also interesting for the makers of slimming supplements. According to in-vitro studies, adrenalin-like substances in combination with quercetin are better capable of dealing with fat cells. And this impact is probably even greater when combined with resveratrol, quercetin and catechins. To name but a few.