Somnoril, a Dichrostachys glomerata extract marketed by Gateway Health Alliances, was associated with significantly reduced food cravings, support weight loss, improve mood, reduce stress, and enhanced overall quality of life compared to a placebo, in a clinical study published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements.
 
The present study is the second randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the extract sourced from a bioactive-rich West African spice that includes flavonoids, polyphenols, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, and terpenoids. The study was conducted at Jacksonville University, Wellness Discovery Labs, and the University of North Florida.
 
“This is an important study that expands the known benefits of this remarkable natural food ingredient,” said Heather A. Hausenblas, PhD, lead study author and professor, at Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences at Jacksonville University. “In addition to weight management, Dichrostachys glomerata supports other aspects of physical and mental health and wellness.”
 
New Findings

The present study expands on previous studies suggesting Somnoril’s weight management, mood, and sleep benefits in overweight and mildly obese adults.
 
Over 60 days of treatment, the Somnoril group experienced lost an average of 4.11 pounds compared to 2.19 pounds in the placebo group.
 
There were also significantly greater reductions in self-reported food cravings compared to both baseline and the placebo group, as measured via the Food Cravings Questionnaire.
 
Subjects taking Somnoril also demonstrated an improvement in self-reported mood and perceived stress levels compared to placebo, and a notable decrease in self-reported anxiety was also observed.
 
Finally, researchers found that those taking Somnoril self-reported improvements in overall health and physical and mental well-being, and fewer disruptions to their daily lives due to health issues.
 
Prior Research
 
These findings corroborate an initial paper on Somnoril which found that Somnoril supplementation was associated with faster sleep onset, longer sleep duration, and improved wakefulness compared to placebo. The 60-day study involved 56 participants ages 25-60 with an average BMI of 31.66 who experienced poor sleep.
 
In total, six randomized, placebo-controlled, peer-reviewed studies involving over 600 participants have demonstrated efficacy of the ingredient in managing body weight, enhancing metabolic balance, and improving sleep. Somnoril is thought to work by modulating key hormones such as GLP-1, insulin, leptin, and adiponectin, while reducing oxidative stress.