본 연구는 산야초 추출물이 함유된 식사대용식을 이용한 초저열량 식사요법의 체중감량과 건강개선에 미치는 효과를 평가하고자 실시되었다 그 결과 식사대용식을 이용하여 초저열량 식사요법을 한 성인 비만여성들의 경우 일반 음식으로만 초저 열량 식사요법을 한 성인 비만여성들보다 체중과 체지방율이 유의하게 감소하였음을 알 수 있었다. 건강관련 인자는 두 군간에 유의한 차이는 없었으나 산야초 추출물이 함유된 식사대용식을 섭취한 군내에서 식사중재 기간 동안 유의하게 지질 개선 효과가 있었다. 한편, 산야초 추출물이 함유된 식사대용식의 맛에 대한 기호도도 긍정적으로 평가되었다. 그러므로, 본 연구에서 사용된 산야초 추출물을 주성분으로 하여 제조된 식사대용식은 향후 임상에서 비만치료제로 응용함에 있어 크게 도움이 될 것으로 사료된다. 단, 앞으로 요요 현상의 가능성에 대한 보다 장기간에 걸친 임상연구가 이루어져야 할 것으로 사료된다.
This study was performed to investigate the effects of very low calorie diet (VLCD) using meal replacements that contain the wild grass extracts that are consisted of mainly Samul-tang ingredients on weight reduction and health promotion in the obese women (BMI$geq$25 kg/$m^2$) for four weeks. Fifty six premenopausal women participated in this experiment. Each subject was either classified as part of the control group (C group, n=28) that consumed 3 regular meals a day or the meal replacement group (MR group, n=28) that consumed 1 regular meal and 2 meal replacements within 600 kcal/day. Anthropometric measurements, body composition, health related factors, and psychological factors were assessed before (the initial) and after (the 4$^{th}$ week) the study. Obesity was significantly decreased after the diet intervention. Anthropometric measurements such as weight, waist and hip circumference, and BMI and body composition such as body fat, and fat mass were significantly decreased in all groups after the diet intervention. Anthropometric measurements and body composition of the MR group were significantly decreased more than those of the C group. Serum total cholesterol was significantly decreased in the MR groups but not in the C group and serum triglyceride concentration was significantly decreased in all groups after the diet intervention. All the biochemical measurements were within normal ranges after the diet intervention. Psychological factors such as stress and depression were significantly decreased in two groups after the diet intervention. Therefore, VLCD using meal replacements is very effective for weight reduction in the obese premenopausal women.
