Obesity is a growing concern worldwide as the rates of obesity continue to trend upward.  The CDC reported that in 2012, one in four Americans were considered obese. Researchers believe they may have found a natural remedy to aid in the fight against obesity. According to a recent study conducted by McGill University, potato extract may help control weight gain.

The researchers fed two groups of mice an obesity-inducing diet over the course of 10 weeks. One group was fed the normal high fat diet while the second group was fed a high fat diet supplemented by a potato extract. After the full 10 weeks, mice from the first group had gained around 16 grams while  mice from the second group had gained only seven grams.

Such a drastic difference was not expected. “We were astonished by the results,” said Prof. Luis Agellon, one of the authors of the study, “we ran the experiment again using a different batch of extract prepared from potatoes grown in another season, just to be certain.”

Researchers say that the high concentration of polyphenols in potatoes are responsible for this benefit. Polyphenols are a beneficial compound found in fruits and vegetables, previously found to aid in the prevention of chronic human illnesses such as cancer and heart disease.

During the study, the mice were fed extract from 30 potatoes each day. “Of course we don’t advise anyone to eat 30 potatoes a day,” said Stan Kubow, principal author of the study, “as that would be an enormous number of calories.” Instead, the team envisions making the extract available as a dietary supplement or simple ingredient to be added to daily meals.

“Potatoes have the advantage of being cheap to produce and they’re already part of the basic diet in many countries,” Kubow explains.

Although the team has had promising results, the benefits of potato extract in human diets is still unknown. Mice and humans metabolize food in very similar ways, but clinical trials are necessary to validate the effects in humans. Research into differences in gender is also required, as men and women metabolize food at different rates.

This study was published by the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research.