Benefits
Body fat and visceral fat 8-week dose-finding RCT
A dose-finding RCT in overweight adults BMI 24-30 at 300/600/900 mg/day showed dose-dependent body fat reductions, a 9.35 cm³ visceral fat area reduction at 900 mg/day, 0.25 kg/m² BMI decrease, and 11 mg/dL LDL-cholesterol reduction. Pivotal foundational dose-finding trial defining the clinical dose range.
12-week body weight loss
300 mg/day produced body weight loss in overweight participants over 12 weeks. Earlier proof-of-concept evidence for sustained weight management at the lower dose.
US visceral fat trial (Nutrafoods)
A US visceral fat trial confirmed the earlier findings. Cross-population replication supporting generalizability beyond the original trials.
Elderly muscle mass increase
300 mg/day for 8 weeks increased muscle mass in the elderly. Distinguishing finding: muscle mass increase combined with visceral fat reduction — unusual dual benefit among weight-management supplements that typically show only fat reduction. Sarcopenia prevention application in elderly populations.
LDL-cholesterol reduction 11 mg/dL
An 11 mg/dL LDL-cholesterol reduction was documented at 900 mg/day. Lipid profile improvement complement to the body composition effects.
ATTR amyloid prevention via TTR tetramer stabilization (12-week)
300 mg Glavonoid stabilized TTR (transthyretin) tetramer and reduced the monomer/tetramer ratio (P<0.05). Mechanism is biochemically aligned with the prescription drug tafamidis (Vyndaqel) used for transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy. Promising before-onset prevention application — small sample size limits definitive conclusions but the mechanism is established.
Beta-oxidation enhancement and lipogenesis inhibition
Mechanistic evidence: Glavonoid enhances beta-oxidation (fatty acid metabolism, energy expenditure increase) and inhibits lipogenesis (SCD1 stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 expression reduction at the adipocyte level). Multi-target metabolic mechanism underlying the body composition improvements.
Mechanism of action
Beta-oxidation enhancement (energy expenditure increase)
Glavonoid enhances mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation, increasing energy expenditure via enhanced fatty acid metabolism. This is the mechanistic basis for the observed body fat reduction.
Lipogenesis inhibition
SCD1 (stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1) expression reduction at the adipocyte level inhibits new fat synthesis. Mechanism complement to beta-oxidation: reduces input while increasing output of the adipose energy balance.
Glabridin (3% standardized) bioactive
Standardization to 3% glabridin defines the major flavonoid bioactive — a multi-target compound with anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective, and anti-melanogenesis activities. The MCT-oil delivery enhances glabridin bioavailability, addressing the ~7.5% oral bioavailability limitation of purified glabridin.
MCT oil delivery (bioavailability)
Medium-chain triglyceride oil (C8:C10 = 99:1) provides lipid-based delivery enhancement. Lipophilic flavonoids absorb better when delivered with fat — and MCTs particularly so given their direct portal vein absorption pathway.
TTR (transthyretin) tetramer stabilization
Glavonoid stabilizes the TTR tetramer — the same mechanism as the prescription drug tafamidis (Vyndaqel). Prevents tetramer dissociation into monomers that aggregate into amyloid fibrils.
Glycyrrhizin-free composition (safety mechanism)
Critical safety feature: Glavonoid is the flavonoid fraction of licorice, not the glycyrrhizin fraction. Crude licorice contains glycyrrhizin which causes pseudoaldosteronism (hypokalemia, hypertension, edema, heart problems with chronic use) — FDA warns against chronic crude licorice use. Glavonoid excludes glycyrrhizin, allowing chronic use.
Anti-inflammatory effects
NF-κB anti-inflammatory pathway suppression contributes to the broader metabolic and cardiovascular benefits.
Clinical trials
Clinical evidence on Glavonoid® / Kaneka Glavonoid™ (Licorice Flavonoid Oil) for the indications and outcomes described.
84 overweight adults
Tominaga Y et al. 2009 — 8-week dose-finding clinical trial in 84 overweight adults BMI 24-30 at 300/600/900 mg/day Glavonoid. Dose-dependent body fat reductions, 9.35 cm³ visceral fat area reduction at 900 mg/day, 0.25 kg/m² BMI decrease, and 11 mg/dL LDL-cholesterol reduction. Pivotal foundational dose-finding trial.
Clinical evidence on Glavonoid® / Kaneka Glavonoid™ (Licorice Flavonoid Oil) for the indications and outcomes described.
Clinical population described in trial publication.
Kinoshita Y et al. 2017 (J Sci Food Agric). 8-week trial at 300 mg/day in elderly. Muscle mass increase combined with visceral fat reduction — unusual dual benefit. Sarcopenia prevention application.
Clinical evidence on Glavonoid® / Kaneka Glavonoid™ (Licorice Flavonoid Oil) for the indications and outcomes described.
Clinical population described in trial publication.
Tominaga Y et al. 2014 (Nutrafoods 13:35-43). US visceral fat trial confirming Japanese findings. Cross-population replication.