eng Science and Education Publishing Journal of Food and Nutrition Research 2333-1240 2023-12-28 11 12 772 784 10.12691/jfnr-11-12-9 JFNR202311129 article Kosei Tsukamoto kouseit@rohto.co.jp 1 Kazutake Fukada 1 Yukiko Sekii 1 Chiaki Ogura 1 Keiichi Ishido 2 Yuka Sasakawa 2 Yasuo Sumida 2 2 Masahiro Fukuda 3 ROHTO Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Osaka 544-866, Japan MG Pharma Inc., Osaka 567-0085, Japan Fukuda Clinic, Osaka 532-0003, Japan Metabolic syndrome is a condition based on the accumulation of visceral fat, which is associated with cardiovascular disease risk factors such as hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. It has been reported that reducing body weight and visceral fat improves cardiovascular disease risk factors such as hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Therefore, functional food components that reduce visceral fat are expected to be developed. This clinical research evaluated the effect of licorice extract supplementation on visceral fat accumulation. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind parallel group study was conducted in 81 healthy subjects (28-64 years old, body mass index (BMI) between 23 kg/m2 and less than 30 kg/m2, and visceral fat area greater than 100 cm2). Subjects consumed either the test capsule that contained licorice extract (licorice extract group) or a placebo for 12 weeks. Compared with the placebo group, the licorice extract group showed a significant reduction in abdominal fat area (visceral fat area, subcutaneous fat area, and total fat area), body weight, and BMI in the BMI-based subgroup (BMI between 23 kg/m2 and less than 25 kg/m2). During this study period, no adverse events related to test capsules were observed. In conclusion, our results indicate that a capsule containing licorice extract reduces visceral fat in healthy subjects. (UMIN CTR ID: UMIN000048430) https://pubs.sciepub.com/jfnr/11/12/9/jfnr-11-12-9.pdf glycyrrhiza uralensis licorice extract glyasperin B body fat