Licorice Root Extract Product Receives Expanded EU Novel Food Approval

09 Sep 2015 --- Kaneka Pharma Europe, developer and patent holder of the liquorice root extract Glavonoid, has successfully secured extended use approval for the novel food ingredient from the European Commission. Glavonoid offers unique support in reducing visceral fat. Besides being used in food supplements and beverages based on milk, yoghurt, fruit and vegetables, as accredited by its Novel Food status since 2011, Glavonoid can now also be applied in foods intended for medical purposes and energy-restricted diets for weight reduction.

Glavonoid has been described by a senior scientist at Kaneka Nutrients, as a “nutrigenomic supplement”, meaning it targets a person’s genes – nutrigenomic indicating the interaction of nutrients with genes. Many nutritional scientists believe nutrigenomics is the future of nutrition, enabling them to understand and optimize the power of nutrition for health and wellness.

In DNA microarray analysis, Glavonoid has been shown to exhibit a two-way efficiency mechanism via the action of its key component, the polyphenol Glabridin. On the one hand, it increases the body’s own fat burning ability by up-regulating genes involved in fatty acid oxidation, and on the other, it decreases fat development by down-regulating genes that are involved in fatty acid synthesis. Besides lowering body weight and BMI (body mass index), Glavonoid may also optimize cholesterol and blood glucose levels. Derived from liquorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) via an advanced patented process, Glavonoid™ is 100 per cent free from glycyrrhizinic acid and contains 30 per cent liquorice glabra polyphenols. The allowed daily dose is 120 mg for adults.

Peter Lambrechts, Business Development Manager at Kaneka’s Quality of Life Division states: “With visceral fat being the main risk factor for the development of metabolic syndromes and other chronic diseases such as cardiovascular illnesses, we see extremely promising market potential here. The new regulatory status for Glavonoid paves the way for manufacturers to create new products targeting markets such as weight management and body shaping.”

Questions were raised about the safety of increased oxidation of fatty acids within the body and the potential impact on inflammation and the build-up of harmful by-products, but Mr Lambrechts said, “No such side effects have been found in the series of in vitro, animal and human safety studies. Kaneka developed evidence that, at least in part, the higher fatty acid oxidation is associated with muscle building and with thermogenesis; a rise in body temperature.” He is also quotes as saying, “European Novel food is the most rigorous safety investigation process for nutraceuticals in the world and Glavonoid passed it.”

Glavonoid can be used in supplements as a single ingredient or as part of a multi-component system to further increase its beneficial effects. It can also be included in products aimed at the sports and fitness market, as well as healthy ageing.