Aim: Considering the poor long‐term success of current dietary and pharmacological interventions, we aimed to evaluate the potential effect of sodium tungstate in the treatment of grade I and II obesity (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00555074).
Methods: Prospective, randomized, placebo‐controlled, double‐blind, proof‐of‐concept study was carried out. Following a 2‐week lead‐in period, 30 obese (body mass index, BMI 30.0–39.9 kg/m2), non‐diabetic subjects were randomized to receive either sodium tungstate (100 mg bid) or placebo for 6 weeks. The primary study endpoint was the absolute change in body weight relative to the time of randomization.
Results: Treatment with sodium tungstate [−0.135 ± 0.268 kg (95% CI −0.686 to +0.416 kg)] was not associated with a significant weight loss compared to placebo [−0.063 ± 0.277 kg (95% CI −0.632 to +0.507 kg)] (p = 0.854). Likewise, treatment with sodium tungstate was not associated with significant changes in fat mass (DEXA), resting energy expenditure (indirect calorimetry) or caloric consumption (3‐day food records).
Conclusion: Our data do not support sodium tungstate as a pharmacological agent in the treatment of human obesity.