AceBiome CEO unpacks science behind South Korea’s first probiotic for body fat reduction

As global interest in gut health and weight management converges, AceBiome’s clinically proven core probiotic targets both areas. The South Korean company’s flagship strain, Lactobacillus gasseri BNR17, is the first probiotic approved by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for body fat reduction. 

AceBiome’s CEO, Myeong Hee Kim, tells Nutrition Insight how this patented strain is reshaping the functional probiotics market in South Korea. She highlights the science supporting its benefits in reducing visceral fat, bowel regularity, and blood glucose balance. 

“Lactobacillus gasseri BNR17 is a patented probiotic that originated from human breast milk,” explains Kim. “While most other probiotics on the market are known for their gut health benefits, BNR17 remains one of the most extensively studied and clinically validated strains available.”

Kim says that AceBiome incorporates the strain in various products under its BNRThin brand. “BNRThin is designed to offer this probiotic clinically proven for weight management, supporting healthy metabolism and daily comfort by gut health and bowel regularity.”

She explains that the strain has a multi-targeted mechanism, which includes inhibiting sugar absorption, reducing visceral adiposity, and modulating metabolic biomarkers. 

Moreover, BNR17 has broad functionalities that span across relief from symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with diarrhea, muscle loss inhibition, and menopausal symptom amelioration, which has been confirmed through clinical studies or observed in in vivo testing.

The strain also has potential as a GLP-1 companion probiotic. “BNRThin may help mitigate potential downsides of GLP-1 weight loss treatments, such as digestive discomfort, constipation, diarrhea, muscle loss during treatment, and weight regain after treatment,” Kim details.

Scientific support

AceBiome has conducted multiple human clinical trials that support BNR17’s efficacy. The probiotic holds global patents and over 1,200 citations. 

We recently discussed AceBiome’s probiotic offer and new joint health solution with Myeong Hee Kim (Image credit: WTC Seoul).“BNRThin offers a clinically proven, convenient, and gut-friendly approach to weight management without side effects or rebound risks associated with extreme diets or pharmacological interventions,” says Kim. 

“In a 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, BNR17 supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in visceral fat and waist circumference without any adverse effects.” 

Research also finds that BNR17 supplementation supports regulating blood glucose levels by modulating biomarkers such as the protein GLUT4 (glucose transporter type 4), primarily responsible for glucose uptake in fat cells. 

“Additionally, unlike typical weight-focused supplements, BNRThin supports bowel regularity, microbiome balance, and overall digestive comfort, making it a more sustainable long-term solution,” adds Kim.

For example, she points to an eight-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in IBS patients that significantly improved IBS symptoms and quality of life. 

The BNRThin product line is available in capsule and stick forms. “We also offer BNRThin protein products for customers who want to add protein into their diet to increase muscle mass or as a simple meal replacement. All of these BNRThin products contain the clinical dose, 10 billion CFU of L. gasseri BNR17 in a daily intake.”

South Korean functional probiotics

Kim says South Korea has long been a mature market for gut-health probiotics. 

Kim says BNR17 probiotic has been shown to reduce visceral fat and improve blood sugar balance in multiple clinical trials.“However, the rise of functional probiotics or strains developed for condition-specific outcomes beyond digestion, such as body fat reduction and menopausal women’s health, has reshaped industry expectations.”

She underscores that AceBiome has played a pivotal role in this transformation, helping to drive functional probiotic market growth through clinical research and product innovation. 

With the launch of BNR17, the company helped to shift the market focus from general wellness to science-backed, targeted health solutions. Moreover, Kim says the strain is well-positioned as a GLP-1 companion probiotic. 

“As global health priorities evolve, weight management is becoming a top concern across all demographics,” she continues. “This is further accelerated by the adoption of GLP-1 treatments, which bring new needs around digestive health (bowel movement), sustainable fat loss, and muscle preservation.” 

Beyond weight management, AceBiome has also expanded its product portfolio to include solutions for joint health, skin function, and menopausal support. Kim says this aligns with a growing demand for comprehensive, life-stage-targeted probiotic products and supplements.

Stability and efficacy

Ensuring the real-world viability and clinical efficacy of BNR17 is crucial, says Kim. The company has built a strategic partnership with Novonesis to achieve this. 

“This collaboration began with UAS Labs in 2018 and has evolved through Chr. Hansen and now Novonesis,” she details. “It enables AceBiome to leverage state-of-the-art fermentation, freeze-drying, and quality control capabilities, preserving the functional integrity of BNR17 from culture to capsule.” 

AceBiome positions BNR17 as a gut-friendly companion for GLP-1 weight loss therapies.“Through this partnership, we ensure strain stability and viability using advanced freeze-drying and protective formulation technologies, optimized for BNR17, and strict compliance with global Good Manufacturing Practices and quality assurance protocols, with validated batch-to-batch consistency and CFU stability throughout shelf life.”

Kim adds that AceBiome oversees all product formulation, packaging, and distribution, with a dual approach. 

“For our flagship refrigerated product, BNRThin, we maintain strict cold chain management from production to retail to preserve high-dose live bacteria. For global convenience and accessibility, we offer a shelf-stable format for different climate zones without refrigeration.” 

She says the company’s hybrid model allows the company to offer clinically backed efficacy and real-world practicality, expanding the accessibility of functional probiotics across diverse retail and healthcare channels.

“Ultimately, our end-to-end system — from clinical strain development to global supply — ensures that consumers receive the benefits demonstrated in our clinical trials, whether in Korea or abroad.”