Beneo touts new isomaltulose scientific research on fat burning

New research carried out by Dr. Helen Lightowler and Professor Jeya Henry at Oxford Brookes University’s Functional Food Centre in the United Kingdom suggests Palatinose offers both long-term body weight and fat loss as well as short-term high fat burning and low energy intake.

The researchers examined Beneo’s functional carbohydrate Palatinose (isomaltulose). They found that the slow release and low glycemic carbohydrate Palatinose supports additional loss of body weight and fat mass in overweight and obese adults, when replacing sucrose in a weight loss diet. As consumers move away from calorie counting, Beneo said these findings underscore that carbohydrate choice matters when it comes to weight loss. 

The study 

Scientists wanted to determine what effects an energy-reduced diet containing Palatinose might have on body weight loss when compared to sucrose. In order to do so, they conducted a randomized, double-blind, controlled intervention study. Over a 12-week period, 50 overweight and obese adults, otherwise healthy, consumed either 40g of Palatinose or sucrose over four meals a day, as part of their energy-reduced diet (in total approximately 1700 kcal per day). The participants were permitted to eat whatever they wanted for dinner. Weight, body composition (fat mass, fat free mass) and energy metabolism were measured at the beginning of the study and every four weeks thereafter. 

Results

Over the 12-week period, both the Palatinose and sucrose groups lost weight. However, only those participants consuming Palatinose lost an extra kilo (just over 2 lbs) in comparison to the sucrose group. The Palatinose group also reduced their fat mass percentage by about 2%. Beneo credits these changes to a greater reduction in energy intake and a higher fat burning rate with Palatinose compared to sucrose. 

Anke Sentko, Vice President Regulatory Affairs and Nutrition Communication at BENEO, said, “This study clearly shows that carbohydrate choice matters when undertaking a weight loss diet. Using Palatinose instead of sucrose supports weight loss and the reduction of body fat in overweight and obese people, because it steers the metabolism towards fat burning. With 670 million adults worldwide now registered as obese, this is an important step towards looking beyond calorie counting and considering instead what people can eat to help them better achieve their weight loss goals.”​

Opportunity 

The weight loss and weight management diet market is made up of food & beverages, meal replacements, weight loss supplements, green tea, and low-calorie sweeteners. Allied Market Research forecasts that the global market is expected to bring in $422.8 billion by 2020, registering a CAGR of 9.1% during the 2015-2020 period. 

North America occupies the largest market share of approximately 35%, owing its largest percentage share to the obese population. A study​ led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health predicts that by 2030, about half of the adult US  population be obese and about a quarter will be severely obese. 

Such a forecast suggests the demand for diet and weight management supplements is here to stay, likely only to increase. 

Source:​ Nutrients ​

2019, 11(10), 2367; doi.org/10.3390/nu11102367​

“Changes in Weight and Substrate Oxidation in Overweight Adults Following Isomaltulose Intake During a 12-Week Weight Loss Intervention”​

Authors: H. Lightowler et al.