Cissus,
does it really help with body weight and body fat reduction?
research showsBottom line: human evidence exists that Cissus quadrangularis reduces body weight and body fat, but positive clinical trials reporting large weight loss are effectively concentrated in one research group (corresponding author Julius Oben) and one raw-material supplier line (Gateway Health Alliances). In the independent Thai double-blind trial confirmed to have no conflicts of interest (Chatree 2021), neither body weight nor body-fat percentage decreased significantly, and only waist circumference decreased by about 2.7cm. This independent trial has a limitation of only 30 participants, but it is the only clearly independent weight trial within the confirmed scope, and the weight effect was not reproduced there. The independent review Maunder 2020 concluded that evidence is insufficient to recommend herbal weight-loss products including cissus. The grade is D (not confirmed in key trial).
ads claimIn weight-loss supplement advertising/marketing, phrases such as 'cissus 300mg body fat reduction,' 'clinically proven weight and abdominal fat reduction,' and 'confirmed by DEXA' are commonly used, and positive numbers above may be cited (this verification did not secure and compare specific ad originals/URLs, so links between individual product ads and specific papers are follow-up items). However, original papers confirm that many positive numbers came from raw-material supplier/same-author-line trials, and some results were from combination products containing green tea, caffeine, and chromium rather than cissus alone.
Useful facts when choosing a product
- Research dose vs market content: positive human trials generally used about 300mg/day of extract. Whether a market product has the same ingredient, standardization (ketosteroid %), and dose as the trials must be checked on each label; domestic labels were not investigated in this scope.
- The Oben 2006 result with the largest weight loss was not 'cissus alone' but a combination product (Cylaris) containing green tea extract (EGCG/caffeine), chromium, and others, making direct application to a single cissus product difficult.
- The test ingredient in large positive trials is a commercial CQR-300 line, with Gateway Health Alliances repeatedly appearing as supplier. Whether a specific market ad's 'clinically proven' claim relies on this line was not compared here.
- In the independent trial confirmed to have no conflicts (Chatree 2021), weight did not decrease significantly. Within confirmed scope, 'waist circumference may decrease somewhat' is closer to independent evidence than 'weight comes off' (but the trial was small, n=30).
- Safety is left as 'unknown.' Short-term trials reported no serious adverse events, but long-term safety/interaction data and independent safety assessment are insufficient.
What the research actually shows
The studies split into two branches. (1) Manufacturer-linked research: Oben 2006 (combination product Cylaris, -6.6 to -8.1kg), Oben 2008 (cissus alone -8.8%, combination -11.9%), Nash/Oben 2019 (body fat -8.9 to -12.8%), and Youovop/Oben 2025 (body weight -5.8%) consistently report large weight loss, but all used raw material supplied by Gateway, include Oben as an author, and the 2025 study declared no conflicts despite funding from the 'J&A Oben Foundation.' (2) Independent research: Chatree 2021, with public funding and no conflicts, found no change in body weight or body-fat percentage, with only waist circumference -2.74cm (but n=30 small). Sawangjit 2017 meta-analysis found pooled weight effect -5.19kg (95% CI -8.82~-1.55), but this value pooled only combination products, and many pooled RCTs were from the same Oben/Gateway line; no subgroup analysis shows whether effects remain when only independent/high-quality trials are considered. The authors themselves wrote that high-quality research is still needed.
Why this is classified as D
D basis: human evidence exists, so not ? or F, but the key question is whether weight/body-fat reduction is confirmed in the no-conflict independent layer. Positive results concentrate in a single research group and raw-material supplier (Oben/Gateway), while the clearly independent Chatree 2021 trial found no change in body weight or body-fat percentage. Sawangjit 2017's -5.19kg is a pooled value for combination products and lacks funding-source subgroup analysis. Independent review Maunder 2020 judged herbal weight-loss evidence insufficient (supporting evidence, not direct disproof of cissus). Under methodology 2-1②, if meta-analysis is significant but independent RCT is null, D applies. Limitation: the independent negative RCT is one small study (n=30).
Counterpoint. Counterarguments are recorded. (1) Sawangjit 2017 meta-analysis shows a nontrivial pooled weight loss (-5.19kg) with CI not crossing 0. (2) Chatree 2021 had only 30 participants and may have lacked power to detect weight change; waist reduction and UCP1 mRNA increase (fat-browning mechanism marker) are metabolically favorable. (3) Maunder 2020 also stated that short-term safety appears acceptable. These counterarguments still do not answer the core question of whether weight effects are reproduced in independent, high-quality trials; that unresolved issue supports D.
Cross-check — Codex and Claude
Evidence Table
| Study | Design | Sample | Funding | Endpoint | Result | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oben JE, Ngondi JL, Momo CN, Agbor GA, Makamto Sobgui CS 2008 | double-blind randomized controlled trial | 72 | possible manufacturer or industry involvement | body fat / body weight / ALT | 72 participants aged 21-44 in 10-week double-blind RCT. Cissus-alone arm (extract 150mg twice daily, standardized to 2.5% ketosteroids) showed weight -8.8% and body fat -14.6% (p<0.05); cissus+Irvingia arm showed weight -11.9% and body fat -20.0%. Test product supplied by Gateway Health Alliances (Fairfield, CA). | key |
| Oben J, Kuate D, Agbor G, Momo C, Talla X 2006 | double-blind randomized controlled trial | 123 | possible manufacturer or industry involvement | body weight / ALT | 123 participants (92 obese, 31 overweight) in 8-week double-blind RCT. Test product was not cissus alone but combination Cylaris (cissus + soy albumin + green tea extract [EGCG/caffeine] + chromium + selenium + vitamin B). Combination group lost -6.6kg without diet to -8.1kg with diet vs placebo -2.3kg. Cissus extract supplied by Gateway Health Alliances; product manufactured by Protein Research Inc. | key |
| Nash R, Azantsa B, Kuate D, Singh H, Oben J 2019 | double-blind randomized controlled trial | 67 | possible manufacturer or industry involvement | body fat / body weight / blood pressure / blood glucose | 67 overweight participants in 8-week double-blind pilot RCT. Commercial product CQR-300 300mg/day reduced body fat -8.9% (impedance) to -12.8% (DEXA), with waist, BP, lipids, and glucose improved. Funding listed as University of Yaounde I, but corresponding author Julius Oben. | key |
| Chatree S, Sitticharoon C, Maikaew P, Pongwattanapakin K, Keadkraichaiwat I, Churintaraphan M et al. 2021 | double-blind randomized controlled trial | 30 | possible manufacturer or industry involvement | body fat / body weight | 30 Thai obese adults (15 per group), 8-week double-blind RCT, cissus 300mg twice daily. Body weight and body-fat percentage showed no significant change; only waist circumference decreased -2.74cm (p<0.05). Thailand Research Fund and Siriraj Hospital public funding; authors declared no conflicts. | key |
| Sawangjit R, Puttarak P, Saokaew S, Chaiyakunapruk N 2017 | meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials | 9 | possible manufacturer or industry involvement | body weight | Meta-analysis of 9 RCTs and 1,108 participants. Pooled weight reduction -5.19kg (95% CI -8.82~-1.55). However, the weight pooling was only for combination products, and the authors concluded that high-quality studies are still needed. | supporting |
| Study 6 | double-blind randomized controlled trial | 248 | mixed or partly industry-related | body fat / body weight / ALT | 248 overweight/obese participants (228 completed) in double-blind RCT. Cissus 300mg/day reduced weight -5.8% and body fat -10.9% (placebo -0.7%), with oral semaglutide as parallel comparator. Funding J&A Oben Foundation, raw material Gateway Health Alliances, yet declared 'no conflicts.' | supporting |
| Maunder A, Bessell E, Lauche R, Adams J, Sainsbury A, Fuller NR 2020 | meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials | possible manufacturer or industry involvement | Independent systematic review/meta-analysis of herbal weight-loss RCTs. Positive results for herbs including cissus were interpreted cautiously due to few studies, low methodological quality, and poor reporting; conclusion that evidence is insufficient to recommend any herbal medicine for weight loss. | supporting |
Receipt — 7 References
Every cited source was opened and checked against the live page on 2026-07-06.
Reviewed and approved: Chamgap Editorial Team · Approval date: 2026-07-06 · Corrections: none
Cite this verdict
[Chamgap] Cissus x diet — Evidence Grade D. 7 cited sources checked. Source: https://health-receipt.pages.dev/en/verdicts/weight/cissus-diet/ · CC BY 4.0CC BY 4.0 — free to use with attribution; do not distort grades, numbers, or verdict meaning.
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