社団法人日本薬学会 Journal of health science 13449702 52 6 672 683 2006-12-01 2006-12-01 Licorice Flavonoid Oil Effects Body Weight Loss by Reduction of Body Fat Mass in Overweight Subjects Tominaga,Yuji Mae,Tatsumasa Kitano,Mitsuaki Sakamoto,Yoshiro Ikematsu,Hideyuki Nakagawa,Kaku The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan Journal of health science Licorice flavonoid oil (LFO) is a new dietary ingredient for functional foods consisting of licorice hydrophobic polyphenols in medium-chain triglycerides (MCT). In an effective dose finding study conducted previously, LFO has exhibited a dose-dependent body fat-reducing effect. Here we report the weight-reducing effect of LFO in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, long-term (12 weeks) ingestion study at 300 mg/day, the minimal effective dose observed in the dose finding study. A total of 103 overweight subjects [body mass index (BMI): 24-30] completed this study and were analyzed. Body weight increased in the placebo group, but was maintained at close to preingestion level in the LFO group, resulting in significant (p<0.05) differences in the changes in body weight and BMI between the LFO group and the placebo group at each time-point. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measurement of body fat indicated that the weight-reducing effect was attributable to reduced body fat. No clinically significant adverse events occurred during the 12-week ingestion period. To confirm the safety of LFO for practical use we also conducted a placebo-controlled, double-blind safety study in 40 overweight subjects with a 4-week excessive ingestion at 1800 mg/day; 6 times the dose of the 300 mg/day study that exhibited a weight-reducing effect. No clinically significant adverse events occurred during the 4-week ingestion period. Based on these findings in both human studies it was shown that LFO is a safe ingredient for functional foods even for long-term or excessive ingestion, with a potential weight-reducing effect. Tominaga,Yuji Functional Food Ingredients Division, Kaneka Corporation Mae,Tatsumasa Functional Food Ingredients Division, Kaneka Corporation Kitano,Mitsuaki Life Science Research Laboratories, Life Science RD Center, Kaneka Corporation Sakamoto,Yoshiro Kamiitabashi Clinic Ikematsu,Hideyuki Haradoi Hospital Nakagawa,Kaku Functional Food Ingredients Division, Kaneka Corporation