Home Ingredients FB3 Fusion® (Fat-Absorption Botanical Blend — Bio Actives Japan)
Weight ManagementMetabolic Health

FB3 Fusion® (Fat-Absorption Botanical Blend — Bio Actives Japan)

Evidence Level
Preliminary
0 Clinical Trials
3 Documented Benefits
1/5 Evidence Score

FB3 Fusion® is a weight-management blend from Bio Actives Japan and American Medical Holdings that combines three standardized botanicals, Coleus forskohlii, Salacia reticulata, and sesame (Sesamum indicum). The blend is promoted for reducing the absorption of dietary fat, but no cited study measured fat absorption. The published research covers single components, with one trial of Coleus forskohlii and two papers on Salacia reticulata. None of it tests the finished blend, and no study of the sesame component is cited. Published data for the specific blend are limited.

Studied Dose No dose of the finished blend has been studied in a published trial. The cited trials dosed single botanicals, not FB3 Fusion. Follow the product label.
Active Compound Blend of Coleus forskohlii (forskolin), Salacia reticulata (salacinol and kotalanol), and Sesamum indicum (sesamin).

Benefits

What the Coleus forskohlii trial measured

FB3 Fusion is marketed as inhibiting the absorption of some dietary fat, but no study cited on this page measured fat absorption. The closest evidence is a randomized controlled trial in overweight and obese adults that gave Coleus forskohlii extract alongside a reduced-calorie diet and tracked metabolic syndrome risk factors. That trial tested one botanical on its own, not FB3 Fusion, and it was run against a background of calorie restriction.

What the Salacia trial measured

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study in healthy volunteers, a Salacia extract lowered the rise in blood glucose and insulin after a meal. Salacia acts mainly by inhibiting alpha-glucosidase, which slows the digestion of starches and sugars rather than fat. This was a single-component study in healthy people, and it is not a claim that the blend treats diabetes, obesity, or any other condition.

Limited-evidence note

Each botanical has individual research, but dedicated published clinical data for the specific finished blend are limited. All three references cover single components, one trial of Coleus forskohlii and two papers on Salacia reticulata. Nothing cited here tests the sesame (Sesamum indicum) component, and nothing cited here tests the three botanicals together.

Mechanism of action

1

Alpha-glucosidase inhibition from Salacia

Salacia reticulata is best characterized as an alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase inhibitor, which slows the digestion of starches and sugars. That is a carbohydrate effect, not a fat effect. In the cited crossover study it showed up as a smaller rise in blood glucose and insulin after a meal. No cited study measured how much dietary fat was absorbed.

2

Proposed fat-metabolism pathway

Forskolin from Coleus activates adenylate cyclase and raises cyclic AMP in laboratory work, which is the proposed basis for an effect on fat breakdown. Sesamin is the compound named for the sesame part of the blend. Neither pathway was measured in the studies cited on this page, and no sesame study is cited at all.

Clinical trials

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Generally well-tolerated.
Mild digestive upset, gas, bloating, or looser stools can occur. Unabsorbed fat is one possible cause, and undigested carbohydrate is another, since alpha-glucosidase inhibition from Salacia slows the breakdown of starches and sugars.
Take with meals to assess tolerance. This blend contains sesame (Sesamum indicum), a major food allergen in the United States, so anyone with a sesame allergy should avoid it.

Important Drug interactions

Blood pressure medication — forskolin may have additive effects; consult a doctor.
Diabetes medication — Salacia may lower blood sugar; monitor.
Tell your doctor about all supplements if you take medication.

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Frequently asked questions about FB3 Fusion® (Fat-Absorption Botanical Blend — Bio Actives Japan)

What is FB3 Fusion?

FB3 Fusion® is a weight-management blend from Bio Actives Japan and American Medical Holdings that combines three standardized botanicals, Coleus forskohlii, Salacia reticulata, and sesame (Sesamum indicum). The blend is promoted for reducing the absorption of dietary fat, but no cited study measured fat absorption.

What is FB3 Fusion used for?

FB3 Fusion is researched primarily for Weight Management and Metabolic Health. FB3 Fusion is marketed as inhibiting the absorption of some dietary fat, but no study cited on this page measured fat absorption.

What is the recommended dosage of FB3 Fusion?

The clinically studied dose is No dose of the finished blend has been studied in a published trial. The cited trials dosed single botanicals, not FB3 Fusion. Follow the product label. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is FB3 Fusion safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, FB3 Fusion is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Generally well-tolerated. Mild digestive upset, gas, bloating, or looser stools can occur. Unabsorbed fat is one possible cause, and undigested carbohydrate is another, since alpha-glucosidase inhibition from Salacia slows the breakdown of starches and sugars. It may also interact with some medications. FB3 Fusion is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does FB3 Fusion interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Blood pressure medication — forskolin may have additive effects; consult a doctor. Diabetes medication — Salacia may lower blood sugar; monitor. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for FB3 Fusion?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for FB3 Fusion as Preliminary (1 out of 5). It is backed by 3 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(3 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Loftus HL, Astell KJ, Mathai ML, Su XQ Coleus forskohlii Extract Supplementation in Conjunction with a Hypocaloric Diet Reduces the Risk Factors of Metabolic Syndrome in Overweight and Obese Subjects: A Randomized Controlled Trial Nutrients. 2015;7(11):9508-22. doi:10.3390/nu7115483.PubMedUsed to support: Human randomized controlled trial in overweight and obese adults testing Coleus forskohlii extract alongside a hypocaloric diet, with metabolic syndrome risk factors as the reported outcomes. It did not measure fat absorption. Evidence is for the Coleus forskohlii component on its own, not for the finished blend.
  2. Jeykodi S, Deshpande J, Juturu V Salacia Extract Improves Postprandial Glucose and Insulin Response: A Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled, Crossover Study in Healthy Volunteers Journal of Diabetes Research. 2016;2016:7971831. doi:10.1155/2016/7971831.PubMedUsed to support: Human double-blind crossover RCT showing Salacia extract significantly reduced postprandial glucose and insulin excursions. The study measured blood glucose and insulin after a meal, not fat absorption. Evidence is for the Salacia reticulata component on its own, not for the proprietary blend, and the volunteers were healthy rather than diabetic.
  3. Medagama AB Salacia reticulata (Kothala himbutu) revisited; a missed opportunity to treat diabetes and obesity? Nutrition Journal. 2015;14:21. doi:10.1186/s12937-015-0013-4.PubMedUsed to support: Review article, not a clinical trial. It summarizes human and animal evidence for Salacia reticulata and describes alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase inhibition, which slows carbohydrate digestion rather than fat digestion. It does not test this blend, and its discussion of treating diabetes and obesity is not a claim made for FB3 Fusion.