This double-blind, randomized clinical trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Bifidobacterium breve B-3 (BB-3) for reducing body fat. Healthy individuals were randomized into the BB-3 or placebo group (1:1). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to evaluate body fat reduction objectively. In the BB-3 group, body weight was lower than before BB-3 ingestion. Regarding waist circumference, hip circumference, and waist/hip circumference ratio, waist circumference and hip circumference were lower in the BB-3 group than in the placebo group at 12 weeks; the waist/hip circumference ratio was found to decrease at each visit in the BB-3 group, although there was no significant difference in the amount of change after 12 weeks. BB-3 did not cause any severe adverse reactions. Body fat was significantly lower in the BB-3 group than in the placebo group. In conclusion, ingesting BB-3 significantly reduces body weight, waist circumference, and hip circumference. Thus, BB-3 is safe and effective for reducing body fat.

Wonhee Cho, Jeongjin Park, Minhee Lee, Seong-Hoo Park, Jaeeun Jung, Jinhak Kim, Sangwon Eun, and Jinkyung Kim. Prev Nutr Food Sci 2023;28:50-60. https://doi.org/10.3746/pnf.2023.28.1.50

Jaeeun Jung, Minhee Lee, Seong-Hoo Park, Wonhee Cho, Jinhak Kim, Sangwon Eun, and Jeongmin Lee. Prev Nutr Food Sci 2024;29:125-34. https://doi.org/10.3746/pnf.2024.29.2.125

Jinhak Kim, Sangwon Eun, Hyunmook Jung, Jaehwan Kim, and Jinkyung Kim. Prev Nutr Food Sci 2023;28:285-92. https://doi.org/10.3746/pnf.2023.28.3.285

Huijin Heo, Jayashree Madhavan, Sangwon Eun, Hyunmook Jung, and Hana Lee. Prev Nutr Food Sci 2021;26:425-33. https://doi.org/10.3746/pnf.2021.26.4.425

Background: Obesity, abnormal fat accumulation in the adipose tissue, has become a serious global public health problem as it increases an individual’s risk of developing various diseases. Objective: This study sought to determine whether the extract from sunflower seed (SUNCA) prevents the development of obesity in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Design: C57BL/6J mice were fed with AIN93G normal diet (Normal diet), 60% HFD, HFD containing Catechin 100 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) (Catechin), HFD containing SUNCA 25 mg/kg b.w. (SUNCA 25), HFD containing SUNCA 50 mg/kg b.w. (SUNCA 50), or HFD containing SUNCA 100 mg/kg b.w. (SUNCA 100) for 15 weeks. Results: Body weight gain, food efficiency rate, adipose tissue weight, adipose tissue mass, size of adipocytes, and serum levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein/low-density lipoprotein (VLDL/LDL)-cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase were significantly decreased by SUNCA supplementation in HFD-fed mice. Furthermore, SUNCA supplementation decreased the expression of proteins related to the adipogenesis and lipogenesis pathways and increased the expression of proteins related to the lipolysis and thermogenesis pathways in the adipose tissues of HFD-induced obese mice. Conclusions: Altogether, SUNCA might prevent obesity by suppressing the adipogenesis/lipogenesis pathway and stimulating the lipolysis/thermogenesis pathway in HFD-induced obese mice.