A team of local researchers has developed a new type of supplement that could help tackle obesity – not by targeting fat directly, but by improving gut health.
The researchers have created a capsule called InuMCT, which has shown promise in pre-clinical studies in reducing weight gain, promoting healthier gut bacteria, lowering inflammation levels and increasing short-chain fatty acids (molecules linked to better gut health and metabolism).
The findings were published in prestigious journal Advanced Therapeutics, with input from several of The Hospital Research Foundation Group’s Research Fellows, including Dr Paul Joyce (pictured) and Associate Professor Hannah Wardill.
“We now understand that obesity isn’t just about overeating – it’s about inflammation and gut bacteria being out of balance,” Dr Joyce said.
“This capsule does more than just reduce weight – it helps fix what’s going wrong inside the gut,” he said.
Scientists have known for years that the gut microbiome – the trillions of bacteria living in our digestive system – play a major role in health and disease. But most current obesity treatments focus only on weight loss, ignoring the gut.
This study showed that targeting gut bacteria directly could offer a new way to treat obesity that’s both safe and effective.
The capsule is a combination of Inulin (a prebiotic that feeds good gut bacteria, commonly found in foods like chicory root and onions), and MCTs (fats found in coconut oil that have been shown to reduce inflammation).
Together, these two ingredients work in a powerful way to restore the balance of bacteria in the gut, which plays a crucial role in weight gain and overall health.
“By combining the two, we believe we can create a more effective and natural therapy for managing obesity than either ingredient alone,” Dr Joyce said.
Dr Joyce said since both Inulin and MCTs are already used in foods and considered safe, the path to real-world use may be faster than traditional drug development.
He said the findings not only provided hope for diet-related obesity, but also other causes such as weight gained from mental health medication.
With the next step now to trial the capsule in humans, the team hopes InuMCT could become a powerful new tool to fight weight gain and improve overall health.
