According to the World Health Organisation, global obesity rates have almost doubled since 1980. Approximately 65% of the world’s population now lives in countries where being overweight or obese kills more people than being underweight. Obesity increases the risk of developing several serious conditions, including atherosclerosis, diabetes, stroke and heart attack.
But it’s not just excess weight that puts a person’s health at risk. Measurement of body composition is a better determinant of health, and waist circumference is an even better predictor of weight-related health risks than the commonly used body mass index (BMI) measurement. It is now known, for instance, that the amount of visceral fat compared with overall body mass is a decisive factor for health.
In contrast to the fat that is found just under the skin, visceral fat is located between the body’s vital organs, such as the intestines, kidneys and liver. Research has now confirmed that excess visceral fat accumulation in the middle of the body is a major health concern because of its increased endocrine activity. Visceral fat secretes a number of hormone-like components that negatively impact insulin function as well as blood sugar, triglyceride levels and even circulation.
A safe and natural route to risk reduction
With visceral fat posing such a health risk, Japanese company Kaneka spotted an opening for a product that would have wide-reaching health benefits for millions of consumers. Thus, its search began for an ingredient that would enable manufacturers to react to the increasing challenges of excess weight and its impact on health.
After screening hundreds of herbs and spices, Kaneka researchers isolated one that held exceptional promise: licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.). It was found that the non-aqueous or oily polyphenols derived from licorice root can ameliorate abdominal obesity.1 The resultant extract is named Glavonoid and it received Novel Food approval from the European Commission in November 2011. Glavonoid contains about 30% licorice glabra polyphenols and is standardised on 3% glabridin, its major active component.2
Importantly, Glavonoid is free from glycyrrhizinic acid, a phytochemical that has been documented as having 'cortisone-like' side-effects, such as hypertension. With its patented manufacturing process, Kaneka succeeded in eliminating potentially harmful components — including glycyrrhizinic acid — while preserving the beneficial ingredients of the licorice root.
Dr Kaku Nakagawa, manager of scientific affairs at Kaneka’s Quality of Life division, was the lead researcher on Glavonoid. He explains how the company ensured that the extract has no mutagenic potential: 'We set up several safety studies, amongst them a 90-day, repeated dose toxicity study and a medium-term liver bioassay for carcinogenesis. Both investigations confirmed the safety of Glavonoid. In addition, human studies including single-dose, continuous-dose (up to 12 weeks) and excessive-dose studies showed no adverse effects, confirming the safety of a continuous intake of the ingredient.'
Backed by science
To scientifically verify the extract’s mode of action, DNA microarray and subsequent quantitative RT-PCR were done. Dr Nakagawa explains: 'The results suggest that Glavonoid ingestion suppresses fatty acid synthesis while at the same time activating fatty acid catabolism in the liver.3 This two-way mechanism is quite unique and leads to the suppression of fat accumulation.'
The ability of Glavonoid to reduce body fat mass, including visceral fat, body weight and BMI, as well as blood cholesterol levels, has been further verified in numerous human clinical studies.
A 3-month, double-blind, randomized controlled efficacy study was done in Japan with a daily dose of 100mg of Glavonoid.4 The licorice extract was given to 51 participants orally, while 52 were given a placebo. At the end of the study, body fat, BMI and body weight were measured and body weight gain was found to have been significantly suppressed in the Glavonoid group.
This was due to the decrease of body fat determined by DXA. Furthermore, the results of a 2-month, double-blind, randomized controlled efficacy study with different dosages (100, 200 and 300mg of Glavonoid as well as a placebo) pointed in the same direction.5 BMI was significantly lower in the Glavonoid groups compared with the placebo group, and those taking 300mg of Glavonoid showed the most significant results in terms of decreased LDL cholesterol levels.
In simple terms, all of these studies document that taking 100mg per day of the extract for 2 months enables fat loss of about one kilogram. In other words, taking 100mg of Glavonoid daily burns about 130kcal of body fat per day.
More recently, an open label crossover study showed that Glavonoid elevates skin temperature in the abdomen of women with a cold constitution. It has also been shown to increase oxygen consumption during aerobic exercise with a concurrent decrease in respiratory quotient. This indicates that the ingredient enhances lipolysis by accelerating energy metabolism.6 Additionally, data from animal studies give a strong indication that Glavonoid may help to build muscle tissue, which also increases basal metabolism.7
Weight management applications
Its Novel Food status paves the way for the use of Glavonoid in a range of new slimming and weight management products, particularly those that target visceral fat reduction. Glavonoid comes in oil form and can be used in nutritional supplements, as well as in functional food applications such as milk, yoghurt and fruit- or vegetable-based beverages.
In addition to improving their body shape with Glavonoid, consumers can support their long-term health by reducing risk factors for several cardiovascular and metabolic diseases at the same time. With visceral fat — and healthy weight management in general — being so high on so many people’s agendas at the moment, the licorice root extract has great market potential.
It can also be included in products aimed at the sports and fitness market, as well as those for healthy ageing. In Japan, Konami Sports & Life, a nationwide network of sports clubs, has successfully launched a Glavonoid supplement as part of its exercise and health programme. In Europe, first products have entered the market, including Lipophedrine from French company 3C Pharma and xli.m Aktiv 130 capsules from Biomo Pharma in Germany.
The allowed daily intake for Glavonoid is currently set at a maximum of 120mg per day in the EU but, in other continents, products are marketed with up to 300mg per day. As its active components are fat-soluble polyphenols, it is best taken together with a meal. If taken in the morning, daily physical activities will synergistically support the fat burning process. When taken in the evening, the ingredient works in harmony with the body’s natural circadian rhythm, during which parasympathetic nerve activity normally activates fat synthesis.
References
1. K. Nakagawa, et al., Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin 27(11), 1775–1778 (2004).
2. F. Aoki, et al., Journal of Chromatography B 828, 70–74 (2005).
3. H. Kamisoyama, et al., Bioscience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry 72(12), 3225–3232 (2008).
4. Y. Tominaga, et al., Journal of Health Science 52(6), 672–683 (2006).
5. Y. Tominaga, et al., Obesity Research & Clinical Practice 3, 169–178 (2009).
6. N. Nakanishi, et al., Japanese Society for Food Science and Technology (In Press).
7. K. Hamada, et al., Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology and Agrochemistry (In Press).