Chinese researchers... plant-based substance proves effective in weight loss

Arab Sea Newspaper - Special

Arab Sea_Agencies: Chinese researchers have announced the development of plant-based micro-beads resembling "boba" tea pearls, which have proven effective in reducing the weight of mice on a high-fat diet, potentially paving the way for a new, drug-free weight loss method. These beads are made from green tea and vitamin E, and are coated with molecules extracted from seaweed. Once ingested, the coating expands in the intestines, where its components bind to and trap partially digested fats, preventing their absorption. Experiments showed that mice that consumed the beads lost about 17 percent of their total weight within a month, compared to other mice that followed the same diet without the beads, which lost negligible weight. The bead group also suffered less liver damage. The results also showed that the mice excreted amounts of fat in their feces similar to those produced by the popular weight loss drug Orlistat, but without its side effects on the stomach. Orlistat is sold globally as "Alli" by GlaxoSmithKline, or "Xenical" by Roche. The researchers plan to present their findings at the American Chemical Society's digital meeting in the fall of 2025, and preliminary human trials have already begun. "We want to develop something that fits into the way people normally eat and live," said study leader Yue Wu, a graduate student at Sichuan University, explaining that the beads are almost tasteless and can be easily incorporated into the diet.