GI Innovation’s affiliate, GI Longevity, revealed on Tuesday that their in-house developed probiotic, GB102, enhances weight loss effects when used alongside GLP-1 obesity medications. The combination also mitigates rebound weight gain and blood sugar spikes after treatment cessation.
This groundbreaking study was a collaborative effort with researchers from Asan Medical Center and Professor Kwon Mina of Ulsan University College of Medicine. The findings were published in the prestigious SCI-indexed international journal, Nutrients.
While GLP-1 class obesity medications have been driving the obesity treatment market with proven efficacy, researchers are actively exploring various combination strategies to overcome limitations such as muscle loss and rebound weight gain post-treatment.
Using an obese mouse model, the research team evaluated several probiotic candidates. They found that GB102 alone effectively inhibited weight gain and regulated blood sugar levels. Notably, when combined with GLP-1 obesity medications in obese mice, GB102 significantly boosted weight loss compared to GLP-1 monotherapy. It also increased overall energy expenditure without causing muscle loss.
Through metabolomic analysis, the researchers discovered that GB102, unlike other strains, is involved in the metabolism of succinic acid and arginine. These metabolites are associated with energy expenditure and muscle preservation, supporting the strain’s mechanism of action.
A spokesperson for GI Longevity stated that this study introduces a novel combination strategy using an oral probiotic to address the limitations of GLP-1 treatment. It anticipates this will garner significant interest from the global pharmaceutical industry. They added that GB102 has potential applications in various fields, including dietary supplements and metabolic disease solutions. It plans to aggressively pursue domestic and international business expansion and commercialization based on the robust probiotic portfolio.