Overview

• Researchers from Sichuan University report a 30-day rat study in which high-fat–fed animals given the beads lost about 17% of body weight.
• The beads increased fecal fat excretion to levels comparable to orlistat in rodents without the gastrointestinal side effects seen with the drug.
• The microbeads consist of a polyphenol and vitamin E core with a protective alginate coating that expands in stomach acid to let fat enter and be trapped.
• A first-in-human, investigator-initiated trial at st ChChina Hospital has enrolled 26 participants, with preliminary data expected within about a year.
• The team is partnering with a biotechnology company to scale manufacturing, while experts caution that human studies must assess fat-soluble vitamin absorption and consumer acceptability.