Home Ingredients Appethyl® (Spinach Thylakoid Extract)
Weight Management

Appethyl® (Spinach Thylakoid Extract)

Spinacia oleracea
Evidence Level
Limited
1 Clinical Trial
3 Documented Benefits
2/5 Evidence Score

Appethyl® is a concentrated spinach (Spinacia oleracea) thylakoid extract, the green chlorophyll-containing membranes of spinach leaves. Taken before meals, thylakoids are proposed to slow fat digestion and influence satiety hormones, and have been studied in a single-meal trial for reducing hunger and cravings; weight loss itself was not measured in that research.

Studied Dose Around 5 grams taken before a meal.
Active Compound Concentrated spinach thylakoid membranes (chloroplast membrane fraction).

Benefits

Appetite and satiety

In a single-dose, single-meal randomized controlled trial, spinach thylakoid extract taken before breakfast reduced hunger and cravings and increased satiety over that meal in overweight women.

Supported by Trial 1

Craving control

In the cited single-meal trial, thylakoid extract most clearly reduced cravings for sweet foods; broader craving control across food types is less established.

Supported by Trial 1

Weight management

By extending fullness and reducing cravings, thylakoid extract may help support appetite control; the cited study measured subjective appetite over a single meal, not weight loss.

Supported by Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

Slowed fat digestion

Thylakoids slow the breakdown of dietary fat by lipase, which prolongs the presence of nutrients in the gut and the release of fullness signals.

2

Satiety-hormone release

Delayed digestion is proposed to promote release of satiety hormones such as GLP-1 and CCK while curbing hunger-driving ghrelin; the cited trial measured subjective appetite rather than these hormones directly.

Clinical trials

1
Spinach Thylakoids and Satiety — RCT
PubMed

Randomized controlled trial of thylakoid-rich spinach extract on hunger, satiety, and cravings. (Stenblom et al. 2015, Appetite)

Overweight women.

A single dose of thylakoid extract before a meal reduced hunger and cravings and increased satiety versus control over that meal; body weight was not an outcome.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Generally well-tolerated — digestive symptoms are most common.
Mild bloating or changes in stool can occur.
Take before meals with water.

Important Drug interactions

Fat-soluble vitamin absorption may be modestly affected; maintain a balanced diet.
Generally compatible with medications.
Tell your doctor if you manage blood sugar or take medication.

More Weight Management Ingredients

Weight Management
Glucomannan (Konjac Root Fiber)
Glucomannan is a water-soluble dietary fiber derived from the root of the konjac plant (Am…
Weight Management
Supresa® (Saffron Extract for Appetite & Crave Control — PLT Health)
Supresa is PLT Health Solutions' patented saffron (Crocus sativus L.) stigma extract, clin…
Weight Management
Erythritol
Erythritol is a 4-carbon sugar alcohol (polyol) — about 60-70% as sweet as sucrose with es…
Weight Management
Greenselect® Phytosome (Decaffeinated Green Tea Catechin Phytosome — Indena)
Greenselect® Phytosome is Indena's phytosome-formulated decaffeinated green tea extract —…

Frequently asked questions about Appethyl® (Spinach Thylakoid Extract)

What is Appethyl?

Appethyl® is a concentrated spinach (Spinacia oleracea) thylakoid extract, the green chlorophyll-containing membranes of spinach leaves. Taken before meals, thylakoids are proposed to slow fat digestion and influence satiety hormones, and have been studied in a single-meal trial for reducing hunger and cravings; weight…

What is Appethyl used for?

Appethyl is researched primarily for Weight Management. In a single-dose, single-meal randomized controlled trial, spinach thylakoid extract taken before breakfast reduced hunger and cravings and increased satiety over that meal in overweight women.

What is the recommended dosage of Appethyl?

The clinically studied dose is Around 5 grams taken before a meal. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is Appethyl safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, Appethyl is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Generally well-tolerated — digestive symptoms are most common. Mild bloating or changes in stool can occur. It may also interact with some medications. Appethyl is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does Appethyl interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Fat-soluble vitamin absorption may be modestly affected; maintain a balanced diet. Generally compatible with medications. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Appethyl?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Appethyl as Limited (2 out of 5). It is backed by 1 clinical trial and 1 cited reference summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(1 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Stenblom EL, Egecioglu E, Landin-Olsson M, et al. Consumption of thylakoid-rich spinach extract reduces hunger, increases satiety and reduces cravings for palatable food in overweight women. Appetite. 2015;91:209-19..PubMedUsed to support: RCT supporting appetite and satiety benefit of spinach thylakoids.