Consumer interest in probiotics and weight loss products is high. Now, a novel natural product which combines these two categories into a single supplement is being introduced to the market.
Marketed as Innobiotic® Pro Burn, the supplement provides the gut health advantages of a probiotic while simultaneously promoting weight loss and control and has been custom formulated to achieve two goals: to maintain intestinal and microbiome health and to facilitate weight control. It successfully and safely achieves both goals as demonstrated by rigorous research and clinical studies.
The underlying mechanism by which a probiotic can contribute to weight control or even weight loss is by inhibiting the absorption of dietary fats by the hosts’ intestine. Dietary fats are metabolized by the human digestion to free fatty acids (FFAs) and glycerides. Probiotic microbes (JBD 301and related strains) were therefore screened and selected for their capacity to eliminate FFA in the small intestine.
An important distinction between Innobiotic® Pro Burn and the prescription medications currently being used or repurposed for weight loss is its ability to regulate weight without the adverse side effects of abdominal pain, loose stools and other gastro-intestinal (GI) symptoms. And in contrast to current prescription weight loss medications, there are no regular injections required as the supplement is a capsule format, easily taken orally. The efficacy of the probiotic JBD301, its active ingredient, was studied in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial which demonstrated that JBD 301 prevents weight gain in overweight subjects who maintain their normal (usual) diet.1
Clinical study behind the new supplement
More than a decade ago an article in scientific journal Nature concluded that body weight “…has a microbial component which might have potential therapeutic implications”.2 Nowadays we know that the “microbial component” is likely multi factorial and that microbiota in the intestinal tract have a major part in regulating of body weight. It is within the GI tract – a particularly the small intestine – where nutrients from food and other sources are partially broken down and absorbed by the body. A healthy gut flora including common bacteria is essential for proper intestinal function. Probiotics are often used to help enhance or modify the gut microbiome either to support treatment of specific intestinal diseases or to simply promote or enhance gut health.
Dietary fat is broken down in the GI tract by a variety of enzymes from the mouth to the stomach and into the small intestine where they are converted into more digestible lipids including fatty acids. Fatty acids and other forms of lipids are absorbed from the small intestinal wall and then transported systemically, throughout the body, where they are involved in both normal and abnormal metabolic processes. The abnormal processes include the promotion of obesity as well as diabetes and further diseases. Researchers at Microbiotica GmbH, the German manufacturer behind Innobiotic® Pro Burn, reasoned that it might be possible to identify a probiotic or bacterium which would intercept and absorb Free Fatty Acids (FFAs) in the gut prior to their internal absorption and distribution throughout the body.
The researchers investigated normal human feces successfully identified specific gut bacteria which might absorb fatty acids. Screening 20,000 separate bacterial strains from healthy feces, they narrowed the search down to a dozen candidates of which four were selected for further studies. These four Lactobacilli strains are bacteria species usually found in the intestine and demonstrated the ability to reduce free fatty acid absorption resulting in reduced body fat and weight gain in mice. Ultimately, testing showed that the four strains, namely JBD 301, JBD 302, 305, and 309 had variations in their specific effects including improving key metabolic markers such as blood triglycerides, cholesterol, and glucose levels. Each being a significant indicator of overall body metabolic function and playing an important role in obesity as well as diabetes, and heart disease.
The third component: plant polyphenols
The combination of a probiotic with specific microbes (JBD) to modify substrates (Fatty Acids) is important to metabolic function associated with obesity. Microbiotica GmbH though goes even further to augment its new product’s ability to aid weight control by adding a third, plant-based component. Recent research has identified particular plant-based compounds which have potential metabolic benefits relevant to weight.
Polyphenols are a group of compounds found in plants including those that are commonly consumed as food. Roughly 60% of all polyphenols belong to a subgroup of compounds known as flavonoids. Flavonoids occur in a wide variety of fruits and foods ranging from red wine to dark chocolate to berries. The French life sciences company Fytexia developed a characterized ingredient rich in flavonoids from grapefruit, orange, blood oranges, and guarana seeds branded as Sinetrol®.
Over the past decade several human and animal studies have evaluated the potential of Sinetrol® to help manage weight. Pre-clinical studies, designed to explore the mechanism of action of Sinetrol® with regard to weight, demonstrated that the action of Sinetrol® relies on an amplification of the physiological lipolysis. Sinetrol® mimics adipocytes change from fat storage cells (white adipose tissue) to more metabolically active cells favoring fat burning (brown /beige adipocytes) cells.3,4,5
In four clinical (human) trials Sinetrol®’s effects were analyzed in more than 300 subjects. The results demonstrated that Sinetrol® reduced abdominal fat deposition and waist circumference while maintaining lean mass.6,7 Additionally, Sinetrol® also reduced overall body weight and fat, resulting in an improved BMI and healthier body composition.8,9 Physiologic parameters including inflammatory and oxidative status were also improved.10,11
The power of probiotics and polyphenols together
The new Microbiotica GmbH formulation results in a natural product which combines probiotics for intestinal health with a two-pronged approach to weight management. It is the result of formulating a probiotic with customized microbe which facilitate weight management along with a novel extract (Sinetrol) to manipulate fat metabolism.12,13
The new product is possible due to the close international collaboration between Microbiotica GmbH, and Fytexia. The synergy of the products being combined for the first time into a single supplement, supported by research and clinical trials represents an exciting opportunity for opening new markets / categories and improved health claims.
Consumers already recognize the promise of probiotics in promoting intestinal health and overall well-being. Adding weight management can only expand this lucrative category. Probiotics currently account for nearly 60% of the $4 billion GI health market which continues to grow as demonstrated by an 9% increase in 2021, according to Nutrition Business Journal. Looking at weight management specifically, Lumina Intelligence (which tracks e-commerce) reports a 500% increase in online reviews for probiotic weight management products.14
Sales of supplements targeting weight loss and metabolic health continue to trend upward and show continued growth. The non-meal supplement market for weight management will increase to nearly $2 billion in sales by 2025.15 Consumer interest in natural botanical products, such as Sinetrol®, for health and wellness remains strong as evidenced by a 17.3% increase in herbal supplement sales in 2020.16 According to Nutritional Business Journal, herbal formulations make up the leading sales category in weight management after meal replacement products and sports supplements.15
Microbiotica GmbH will be offering Innobiotic® Pro Burn products in two ways to facilitate their market entrance: a product which includes the probiotics JBD 301, 302, and 305 in combination with 900mg Sinetrol® in finished capsule form is available; and the JBD probiotic strains may be purchased individually or together for use in a custom branded product.
Together as Innobiotic® Pro Burn, or as separate individual components, the JBD strains and Sinetrol will offer consumers a new natural and proven way to manage weight as well as promoting overall health.
References
1. Chung HJ.; Yu JG.; Lee IA.; et al. Intestinal removal of free fatty acids from hosts by Lactobacilli for the treatment of obesity. FEBS Open Bio. 2016 Jan 18;6(1):64-76.
2. Rey LE et al. Microbial ecology: human gut microbes associated with obesity. Nature. 2006 Dec 21;444(7122):1022-3.
3. Boden G. Obesity and Free Fatty Acids (FFA). Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2008 Sep; 37(3): 635–ix.
4. Kim Y.; Keogh JB.; Clifton PM. “Polyphenols and Glycemic Control.” Nutrients. 2016 Jan; 8(1): 17.
5.Tangney C.; Rasmussen HE. “Polyphenols, Inflammation, and Cardiovascular Disease.” Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2013 May; 15(5): 324.
6. Yoo JM et al. Effects of Sinetrol-XPur on leptin-deficient obese mice and activation of cAMP-dependent UCP-2. J Korean Soc Food Sci Nutr. 2016;45:484–491.
7. Lee M et al. “The effects of Sinetrol-XPur on lipolysis of leptin-deficient obese mice.” J Korean Soc Food Sci Nutr. 2017;46:389–393.
8. Dallas C et al. “Lipolytic effect of a polyphenolic citrus dry extract of red orange, grapefruit, orange (SINETROL) in human body fat adipocytes. Mechanism of action by inhibition of cAMP-phosphodiesterase (PDE).” Phytomedicine 2008;15:783–792.
9. Dallas C et al. “Clinical study to assess the efficacy and safety of a citrus polyphenolic extract of red orange, grapefruit, and orange (Sinetrol-XPur) on weight management and metabolic parameters in healthy overweight individuals.” Phytother Res 2014;28:212–218.
10. Cases J et al. “A 12-week randomized double-blind parallel pilot trial of Sinetrol XPur on body weight, abdominal fat, waist circumference, and muscle metabolism in overweight men.” Int J Food Sci Nutr 2015;66:471–477.
11. Park SJ et al. “Efficacy and Safety of Sinetrol-XPur on Weight and Body Fat Reduction in Overweight or Obese Adults: A 12-Week, Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel, Placebo-Controlled Trial.” J. Med. Food. 2020 23:3, 335-342.
12. Laparra JM.; Sanz Y. “Interactions of gut microbiota with functional food components and nutraceuticals.” Pharmacol Res. 2010 Mar;61(3):219-25.
13. Marin L.; Miguélez EM.; Villar CJ.; et al. “Bioavailability of dietary polyphenols and gut microbiota metabolism: antimicrobial properties.” Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:905215.
14. Hancocks N. Probiotics see biggest ever online surge in 2020. NutraIngredients, Mar 5, 2021.
15. Nutrition Business Journal: Sports Nutrition & Weight Management Report 2022
16. Smith T.; Eckl V.; Morton Reynolds C. “Herbal Supplement Sales in US Increase by Record-Breaking 17.3% in 2020.” Herbalgram. Issue 131, 2021.