CBT Probiotics Identify the Mechanism for Weight and Body Fat Reduction

Cell Biotech has identified the biological mechanism by which a combined formulation of its patented probiotic strains, ‘CBT-LP3 (KCTC 10782BP)’ and ‘CBT-BR3 (KCTC 12201BP)’, applied to major products of its strong probiotic brand DUOLAC, contributes to reductions in body weight and body fat.

This study was jointly conducted by Cell Biotech’s R&D Center and the World Institute of Kimchi, a government-funded research institute, and the findings were published in the SCI(E)-indexed international journal Journal of Microbiology.

Previously, Cell Biotech confirmed the weight-reducing effects of the two CBT probiotic strains through studies involving overweight and obese companion dogs. Based on these observations, the present study was designed to elucidate the biological pathways underlying the weight loss effects, using a high-fat diet–induced obese animal model.

The research team orally administered CBT probiotics to mice rendered obese by a high-fat diet and conducted an integrated analysis of ▲changes in body weight and body composition ▲histological assessments ▲blood biochemical markers ▲gene expression related to lipid metabolism ▲and gut microbiota composition to evaluate the anti-obesity effects of the CBT probiotics.

As a result, the CBT probiotic-treated group exhibited reductions of 9.7% in body weight, 9.4% in body fat, and 20.2% in abdominal fat compared with the control group, while preserving muscle mass and selectively reducing fat mass. Notably, despite no significant difference in food intake, the size and density of adipocytes in adipose tissue were markedly decreased. This suggests that the observed weight reduction was not attributable to appetite suppression but rather to regulation of lipid metabolism.

Mechanistic analyses further revealed distinct changes. In the CBT probiotic-treated group, the expression of genes promoting lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation (Adiponectin and Sirt1) increased by 33.6% and 43.1%, respectively, whereas the expression of genes involved in lipogenesis (Srebp1c and Fas) decreased by 24.6% and 35.8%, respectively. In addition, blood glucose and cholesterol levels declined by 27.1% and 16.6%, respectively, while liver function markers ALT and AST were reduced by 43.4% and 24.1%. Overall improvements were observed across a broad range of metabolic blood indicators.

Gut microbiota analysis also showed an increased proportion of beneficial bacteria associated with metabolic health, such as Akkermansia and Bacteroides, along with a recovery of microbial diversity. The research team concluded that these changes likely contributed to improved metabolic balance along the gut–liver–adipose axis, thereby facilitating weight reduction and attenuation of body fat accumulation.

The CBT-LP3 strain, derived from kimchi, and the CBT-BR3 strain, isolated from a newborn infant, are indigenous Korean strains, each holding individual patents related to obesity. Both strains are registered under the U.S. FDA’s highest safety ingredient certification system, FDA GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe), ensuring their safety for human consumption. These strains are applied in key DUOLAC products, including ‘DUOLAC The First Class’ and ‘DUOLAC Bioguard’.