Against this backdrop, the latest wave of supplement research is moving beyond weight loss to explore potential effects on cholesterol, blood sugar, inflammation, body composition, liver function and the gut microbiome.
GLP-1 support has emerged as a prominent theme, alongside research on probiotics, postbiotics, prebiotics, botanicals, marine-derived ingredients and polyphenol-rich inputs acting through a diverse range of metabolic pathways.
Many of the studies evaluate branded formulations or proprietary ingredients, often with company funding or collaboration alongside academic and clinical researchers, with the researchers calling for larger, longer-term studies involving more diverse populations before broader recommendations can be made to combat the global metabolic health crisis.
Akkermansia may improve PMOS-related measures for obese women
A randomized controlled trial from China found that daily supplementation with postbiotic Akkermansia muciniphila, alongside standard oral contraceptive therapy, improved metabolic and hormone measures in women with obesity-associated polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS).
Over 12 weeks, 100 women with obesity-associated PMOS receiving standardized oral contraceptive therapy were randomized to consume either AKK postbiotic supplementation or placebo. Effects were evaluated on body weight, hyperandrogenic manifestations, glucose–lipid metabolism, and gut microbiota composition.
According to the findings, the group receiving Akkermansia lost more weight, showed reduced testosterone levels and experienced improvements in insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and symptoms of hyperandrogenism compared to placebo. The intervention also shifted gut microbiota towards a more beneficial composition.
“As a flagship next-generation probiotic, Akkermansia muciniphila (AKK) has been extensively validated for its prominent therapeutic advantages against metabolic diseases,” the researchers affiliated with Nanchang University wrote in the journal Clinical Nutrition. “However, clinical research on AKK remains scarce owing to its exclusion from the Official Catalog of Approved Food Microbial Strains in China.”
Dose for Cholesterol supplement shows lipid-lowering effects
The Dose for Cholesterol-branded liquid supplement marketed by California-based Eetho Brands Inc. significantly lowered LDL, total cholesterol, VLDL and triglycerides, while raising HDL in healthy adult over 90 days.
The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted in India assigned a total of 86 participants to either receive 60 mL twice daily of a placebo or the supplement blend, which contains turmeric, pomegranate, amla, ginger, black pepper, niacinamide, CoQ10, folic acid and lycopene.
“The observed effects are biologically plausible and consistent with prior clinical and preclinical evidence supporting lipid-modulating and cardioprotective properties of the individual botanical and micronutrient components included in the formulations,” the researchers wrote in The Journal of Dietary Supplements.
“Rather than attributing the outcomes to a single active ingredient, the present findings likely reflect complementary and potentially synergistic mechanisms, including antioxidant activity, modulation of lipid absorption and transport, enhancement of adiponectin signaling and favorable effects on hepatic lipid handling.”
The researchers recommended future studies to evaluate the formulation in populations with dyslipidemia, assess longer term efficacy and safety, investigate mechanisms of action through metabolomic profiling and examine effects in diverse ethnic populations.
Upcycled salmon protein may improve key biological drivers of healthy aging
A pilot randomized controlled trial found that eight weeks of supplementation with Hofseth Biocare’s ProGo, an upcycled salmon protein hydrolysate, significantly improved key markers of healthy aging—such as systemic inflammation, glycemic control and body composition—in overweight adults compared to whey protein isolate.
Participants who consumed 12 grams of ProGo a day showed increases in hemoglobin, red blood cell count and ferritin, as well as notable reductions in body fat, BMI and fasting blood glucose. Improvements in hair, nail and skin health were also observed.
“ProGo supplementation improved multiple key biological drivers of healthy aging: erythropoietic function, systemic inflammation, glycemic control and body composition,” researchers from Hofseth BioCare (HBC) and More og Romsdal Hospital Trust in Norway, wrote in the journal Biomedicines. “These findings are consistent with a bioactive rather than a purely nutritional effect and are hypothesis-generating with respect to a multi-domain profile relevant to healthy aging and the maintenance of intrinsic capacity.”
Study supports cellular fat burning potential of Coleus forskohlii
A study led by Star Hi Herbs Pvt. Ltd. and Andichunchanagiri Hospital and Research Centre in India suggested that Forcslim, an herbal extract of Coleus forskohlii, may aid in reducing excess body weight and fat.
Writing in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, the researchers reported that overweight adults who took the supplement showed significant reductions in waist circumference, body weight and triglyceride levels, as well as improved HDL cholesterol compared to placebo. The quasi-randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was carried out in 60 overweight adults between the ages of 20 and 70 years over a period of 12 weeks
Framing Forcslim as “a potential anti-obesity supplement with a favorable safety profile,” the researchers also noted the need for larger, longer-term studies to confirm the findings.
Berberine combination shows short-term metabolic benefits in obesity
In a 12-week randomized trial of 93 adults with obesity consumed a supplement containing berberine (1,000 mg), white mulberry leaf extract (400 mg) and chromium picolinate (.644 mg) improved BMI, body fat and insulin sensitivity compared with placebo. It was generally well tolerated, although two participants discontinued because of mild gastrointestinal symptoms.
The small, single-center study used indirect body-composition measures and did not evaluate the individual effects of the ingredients.
“Because there were no single-agent comparators, the contribution of each component and the presence or absence of synergy remain undetermined,” the team of Greek university researchers wrote in the journal Nutrients. “Larger prospectively registered trials using direct measures of insulin sensitivity and imaging-based adiposity outcomes are required before clinical or mechanistic conclusions can be drawn.”
They also suggested extension assessments at 4, 12 and 24 weeks after discontinuation and studies in populations such as type 2 diabetes or polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome.
Low-dose berberine formulation increases GLP-1 in small study
Writing in the International Journal of Clinical Trials, researchers from Zeus Hygia Life Sciences in India reported that a 200 mg daily dose of the company’s bio-optimized berberine ingredient Metaberine increased fasting and postprandial plasma GLP-1 while improving measures of glucose and lipid metabolism in a small-scale, placebo-controlled study involving 26 healthy adults at metabolic risk.
The study reported that the five-to-seven-fold lower dose than conventional formulations significantly improved glycemic control, enhanced incretin response and favorably modulated lipid metabolism in healthy adults at metabolic risk, supporting its potential as a functional nutritional ingredient for metabolic wellness.
“We believe Metaberine was able to show in the research that it is the first for any berberine extract to actually be able to influence your GLP-1 hormone level,” said Colleen Madden, vice president of innovation at CK Nutraceuticals, the North American distributor of Metaberine. “We haven’t been able to find any other [low-dose] berberine that has GLP-1 data on it.”
GLP-1 levels increased with OEA supplementation
A clinical study published in the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology found that supplementation with oleoylethanolamide (OEA) significantly increased GLP-1 levels in a group of 37 overweight and obese adults, with a 300 mg dose raising concentrations by up to 25% compared to placebo within 15 minutes.
The effects were sustained even after meals, and OEA supplementation also reduced circulating DPP-4 concentrations, though the functional significance of this remains unclear.
The study, conducted by researchers from RDC Clinical in Australia and funded by Gencor Pacific, suggests that OEA, acting through the GPR119 receptor, could offer an alternative to GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs with fewer side effects. Further research is planned to explore its potential benefits for metabolic health and optimal dosing.
Body weight may influence coffee’s effects on heart and metabolic health
Lower BMI may be associated with greater activation of metabolic pathways linked to cardiovascular health following caffeinated coffee consumption.
According to a crossover study carried out in 30 adults between the ages of 40 and 80 with coronary heart disease, participants with lower BMI showed increased Sirt-1 levels after consuming caffeinated coffee, suggesting enhanced metabolic benefits compared to those with higher BMI, potentially due to differences in inflammation and AGE–RAGE pathway activation.
“Exploratory findings suggest that the sRAGE-Sirtuin-1 axis may exhibit distinct association patterns across BMI phenotypes following coffee consumption,” the researchers wrote in the journal Nutrients. “Specifically, homocysteine emerges as an upstream determinant of RAGE signaling only in leaner individuals after consuming either caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee.”
The research also found that decaffeinated and caffeinated coffee impacted metabolic markers differently across BMI groups, indicating distinct biological responses.
AB-Biotics and Kaneka Probiotics study: L. plantarum delivers weight management and mood benefits
A study by AB-Biotics, Kaneka Probiotics and partners found that the probiotic strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarumKABP-051 may support weight management and mood in overweight adults through the gut-brain axis.
In a 12-week, placebo-controlled trial involving 60 participants, those receiving KABP-051 showed greater reductions in body weight, body fat and waist circumference, as well as improvements in fatigue and confusion scores compared to placebo. Salivary cortisol changes and microbiome shifts were noted, but some differences were not statistically significant.
“Results from this randomized, double-blinded trial indicate that L. plantarum KABP051 may be an effective way to enhance weight loss, while also helping users improve their overall well-being with reduced fatigue and elevated energy levels that may be helpful when they are embarking on a healthy lifestyle program,” the researchers wrote in the Journal of Medicinal Food. “Further investigations in larger populations are warranted to fully elucidate the underlying mechanisms by which L. plantarum KABP051 may exert their metabolic and psychobiotic effects.”
Slimbiotics study suggests postbiotic can reduce weight, increase muscle mass and support cognition
A 12-week randomized, double-blind clinical trial found that supplementation with heat-inactivated L. fermentum K8-Lb1 was associated with reductions in body fat and waist circumference, alongside an increase in muscle mass.
The pilot study, funded by Slimbiotics and published in the journal Nutrients, evaluated the efficacy of the plant-derived postbiotic for weight management and related health parameters.
Conducted by researchers from the Clinical Research Center Kiel and Johannes Gutenberg University in Germany, in collaboration with CitrusLabs in Las Vegas, the study randomly assigned 60 participants to receive either the postbiotic L. fermentum K8-Lb1 or a placebo for 12 weeks, while maintaining an ad libitum diet.
Regarding mechanism of action, It suggested that the heat-killed bacteria contain a ClpL protein that may mimic α-MSH (an appetite-regulating hormone), offering gut-brain signaling benefits.
Kimere-derived probiotics may offer modest weight loss benefits
Slimbiotics’ probiotic blend derived from kimere—a millet-based African fermented food—may provide modest reductions in body fat in overweight adults when added to a lifestyle-based weight loss program, according to a study carried out by scientists from Texas A&M University.
Participants received either the K7-Lb1, K8-Lb1 and K11-Lb3 strain blend or a placebo, administered over 12 weeks alongside diet and exercise interventions. While the probiotic group (38 partipants) lost an average of 2.7 kg more fat than the placebo group (39 participants), some results did not reach statistical significance.
“Probiotic supplementation was associated with numerically greater reductions in fat mass, BF% and measures of central adiposity than placebo, although many between-group differences did not reach statistical significance,” the researchers wrote in the journal Nutrients. “Collectively, these findings suggest that targeted L. fermeneum supplementation may provide modest additive benefits during lifestyle-based weight loss interventions.”
Epax’s cetoleic acid supplement shows promise for cardiovascular health
Supplementation with Epax’s omega-9 and omega-11 blend reduced LDL cholesterol by 7% in overweight and obese adults after eight weeks, according to a clinical trial funded by The Norwegian Seafood Research Fund.
Published in The British Journal of Nutrition and conducted by researchers at the University of Bergen, the study compared a daily 4-gram dose of cetoleic acid concentrate derived from herring oil with a control group receiving soybean and anchovy oil capsules. Results indicated that supplementation may also positively affect inflammatory markers by becoming incorporated into immune cell membranes.
The researchers suggest further study is needed to assess effects in populations at higher risk of metabolic health issues.
Planttech carob concentrate improves insulin sensitivity in participants with elevated glucose
A 90-day randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted in 52 Caucasian men and women aged between the ages of 18 and 65 years with a diagnosis of prediabetes found that Planttech Biotechnology’s carob liquid concentrate, standardized for inositols such as D-pinitol, significantly improved HbA1c, glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity in participants with elevated blood glucose levels.
“Among the bioactive inositol compounds present in carob, D-pinitol, myo-inositol, and D-chiro-inositol in particular have attracted increasing attention due to their insulin-mimetic and insulin-sensitizing properties,” the researchers wrote in the journal Nutrients. “However, previous studies have primarily examined the effects of different carob-related extracts rather than focusing on the contribution of inositol-rich fractions of the product, which remain insufficiently explored in subjects with prediabetes.”
Planttech plans further research to explore the broader metabolic effects and the “entourage effect” of carob bioactives in glucose regulation.
Saskatoon berry intake linked to improved heart and gut health
A 10-week, single-arm pilot study in 20 healthy adults found that daily consumption of 40 grams of freeze-dried Saskatoon berries led to improvements in fasting blood glucose, total and LDL cholesterol, systolic blood pressure and inflammation, with no significant changes in body weight or insulin resistance.
“Saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia) is a deciduous shrub native to western Canada and the northwestern United States. Its fruit, commonly known as Saskatoon berry (SB), was a traditional food of Indigenous peoples in North America,” wrote researchers from University of Manitoba in Winnipeg. “SB was a classical component of pemmican, a traditional preserved food made with buffalo meat and berries. Although SB is no longer routinely harvested in many Indigenous communities, it continues to be widely consumed across North America in the form of fresh fruit, juices, wine, jam or pie”
The study, published in the International Journal of Molecular Science, linked these benefits to increased dietary fiber and anthocyanins, as well as positive shifts in gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acid production, and called for larger controlled trials to confirm the findings.
Study links Italian coffee consumption to better liver health
Research published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition linked daily consumption of Italian-style coffee to improved liver health, with benefits peaking at four to six cups.
“Coffee has a unique chemical composition consisting of numerous compounds that contribute to metabolic and liver health,” wrote researchers from the National Institute of Gastroenterology in Southern Italy. “Nevertheless, it is not yet clear what dose of coffee should be safely consumed to positively impact MASLD [Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease]. “
While initial data showed no difference, adjusting for age, weight and lifestyle revealed that higher coffee intake correlated with lower MASLD risk, with the researchers attributing the promising effects to higher levels of beneficial compounds like chlorogenic acids and diterpenes retained through Italian brewing methods and Arabica beans.
High polyphenol intake linked to better heart health
Consuming high levels of polyphenol-rich foods over an extended period may support healthy blood pressure and cholesterol profiles thereby lowering the risk of heart disease, according to research published in BMC Medicine.
A decade-long study of over 3,100 twins by King’s College London found that higher intake of polyphenol-rich foods, as measured by urinary metabolites and dietary scores, is linked to lower blood pressure, healthier cholesterol profiles and reduced risk of heart disease.
The research showed that both the quantity and diversity of polyphenol consumption—through foods like tea, coffee, berries, cocoa, nuts, whole grains, and olive oil—were important for cardiovascular health, with specific metabolites correlating to better outcomes.
While the findings are promising and based on objective biomarkers, the researchers noted that further studies in more diverse populations are needed to confirm these associations and inform broader dietary recommendations.
Actilite prebiotic may improve gut and body composition in overweight prediabetics
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial found that 12 weeks of daily supplementation with 20 grams of prebiotic short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides led to modest reductions in fat mass and increases in lean mass among overweight pre-diabetic adults, without changes in overall body weight, calorie intake or physical activity.
During the intervention period, participants were instructed to consume two 10-gram sachets of prebiotic per day (Actilight; 95% scFOS) or two 10-gram sachets of a maltodextrin placebo, one at breakfast and one at lunch or dinner. The research was conducted by contract research organization Biofortis and funded by French agricultural cooperative group Tereos, which produces sho scFOS) derived from sugar beet, marketed under brands like Actilight.
“Altogether, although no significant effects were observed on the primary outcome HbA1c and other glycemic markers within the 12-week study period, our findings suggest that scFOS supplementation in overweight individuals with prediabetes induces favorable shifts in gut microbiota composition, including the enrichment of health-associated bacterial taxa such as Bifidobacterium and Anaerostipes,” the researchers wrote. “These microbial changes were accompanied by modest improvements in body composition, notably a reduction of fat mass.”
They therefore suggested that scFOS may support metabolic health through microbiota modulation rather than direct metabolic changes.
Study backs weight management potential of probiotic and microalga combination
Research published in the journal Nutrients and conducted at the Korean Medicine Hospitals of Woosuk University indicated that a combination of probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Q180 and marine microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum may support weight loss in overweight adults.
The 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 100 participants found that the CKDB-322 formulation significantly improved adiposity-related outcomes, including reductions in body weight, BMI and waist-to-hip ratio, while also decreasing serum triglycerides and leptin levels compared to a placebo. It also noted microbiome changes, suggesting CKDB-322’s potential influence on the gut-adipose metabolic axis.
The study products were supplied by Chong Kun Dang Bio Corporation.
Taiwan multivitamin users cite immune, energy and overall health benefits in Haleon survey
According to a Haleon-funded consumer study in Taiwan, most consumers surveyed believe that multivitamin and mineral (MVM) supplement may support immune, metabolic and overall health.
The global British consumer healthcare company surveyed 400 adults who regularly used Centrum multivitamin and mineral supplements, finding that most perceived benefits for immune function, metabolism, overall health, energy and skin complexion.
Key reasons for use included nutritional support, immune support and overall health maintenance. More than 70% of users expressed satisfaction and willingness to repurchase, with positive perceptions consistent across age and gender groups.
Published in the Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition, the study emphasized that real-world consumer experiences can complement findings from controlled trials.
What the science suggests
- Branded formulations dominate the clinical pipeline, with products ranging from multi-ingredient botanical blends and low-dose berberine to salmon protein, carob concentrate and targeted microbial strains.
- The clearest signals are concentrated in intermediate markers—such as LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting glucose, waist circumference and fat mass—rather than demonstrated reductions in disease risk.
- Microbiome-focused products are moving beyond digestive claims, with studies testing links to body composition, appetite signaling, mood and communication between the gut, brain and adipose tissue.
- Individual response may matter, with findings suggesting that baseline weight, glucose status, diet or metabolic risk can influence whether an intervention produces a measurable effect.
