Huons N has confirmed the body fat reduction effects of its self-developed probiotics and postbiotics through human clinical trials. The company is now pursuing approval for these as functional ingredients in health supplements.
On Friday, Huons N, a subsidiary of Huons Group, announced that it had validated the fat-reducing properties of its Propionibacterium freudenreichii MJ2 (MJ2 Probiotics) and Bifidobacterium longum HN001 heat-treated culture (HN001 Postbiotics) through human clinical studies.
The company has submitted applications for these two ingredients to be recognized as individually approved functional ingredients that may help reduce body fat. Huons N aims to secure approval in the latter half of this year.
The clinical trials yielded promising results. MJ2 Probiotics, when consumed by 100 overweight adults over a 12-week period, significantly decreased lower body and overall body fat mass and percentage compared to the placebo group. HN001 Postbiotics showed improvements in trunk and abdominal fat, with notable reductions in both visceral and subcutaneous fat areas.
While both ingredients effectively reduced body fat, the company noted that there were no significant changes in lean mass, including muscle tissue.
The individual approval system for functional ingredients is overseen by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, which evaluates the safety and efficacy of each ingredient separately. This system is a key focus for research and development (R&D) in the health supplement industry, as it allows for recognition of more specialized functionalities compared to standard ingredients.
Upon successful registration of these individually approved ingredients, Huons N plans to launch health supplements targeting body fat reduction, aiming to capture a share of the personalized body management market.
Son Dong-cheol , Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Huons N, stated that these clinical trials have paved the way for developing tailored products that can selectively address upper and lower body concerns. He added that it will continue to focus on innovative research and development of bio-materials to stay at the forefront of the industry.