Benefits
Healthy blood lipids
One 6 week randomized, placebo-controlled trial run by the manufacturer gave 1.6 g three times a day to 68 women aged 20 to 55 with metabolic syndrome. The published paper reports a significant rise in HDL cholesterol in the 42 women over 45 years old, with the whole group showing only tendencies. The European Food Safety Authority reviewed the same trial in 2008 and reached a different reading: no effect on LDL cholesterol, an HDL rise that was slight and not statistically significant, no control for diet or activity after randomisation, and no cause and effect relationship established. The claim was refused.
Fat binding in the gut (not measured for NeOpuntia)
Cactus fiber can bind dietary fat. In 20 healthy adults a different branded Opuntia fiber (Litramine IQP G-002AS, sold by another company) raised stool fat from 4.6 to 15.8 percent of intake, and in 125 overweight adults it produced 2.4 kg more weight loss than placebo over 12 weeks alongside a reduced calorie diet. Neither result was obtained with NeOpuntia. For NeOpuntia itself the only fat binding data is a laboratory digestion model, which EFSA judged of questionable relevance to human digestion, and no trial has reported a body weight result. A 2015 meta-analysis of Opuntia trials found no significant effect on body weight.
Gel-forming fiber (fullness not measured)
Gel-forming fibers add bulk to a meal, but no trial of NeOpuntia has measured appetite, fullness or food intake. This is a mechanism idea, not a result.
Mechanism of action
Lipophilic fat binding
Cactus fiber can bind dietary fat so that less is absorbed and more leaves in the stool. Stool fat was measured directly in 20 healthy adults given a different branded Opuntia fiber, where it rose to 15.8 percent of intake against 4.6 percent on placebo. For NeOpuntia the only supporting data is a laboratory digestion model, which EFSA considered of questionable relevance to human digestion.
Soluble fiber effects
The soluble fiber component slows digestion. Effects on satiety and on post-meal glucose or insulin have not been measured for this product.
Clinical trials
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 6 week trial in a single centre: 68 women randomized (35 NeOpuntia, 33 placebo), 59 completing, 1.6 g three times a day. The authors were staff of Bio Serae, which sells the ingredient, and the company submitted this trial to EFSA in support of a health claim. (Linarès E, Thimonier C, Degre M. 2007, Advances in Therapy; assessed in EFSA Journal 2008;6(8):788)
68 women aged 20 to 55 with metabolic syndrome and a BMI of 25 to 40; 59 completed. No men were studied.
The published paper reports a significant rise in HDL cholesterol in the 42 women over 45 years old and only tendencies in the group as a whole. Reviewing the full dataset in 2008, the European Food Safety Authority found no effect on LDL cholesterol, found the HDL rise slight and not statistically significant, noted that the randomisation method was not reported and that diet and physical activity were not controlled after randomisation, and concluded that a cause and effect relationship could not be established. Body weight was not reported and fat absorption was not measured in people.