Saanroo announced the publication of a human clinical trial which found that its bioavailable oleoylethanolamide (OEA) ingredient Trpti modulated the gut microbiome in overweight adults. The findings, which included modulations of the gut microbiome and improvements in gut barrier function and favorable inflammatory signaling, were published in Gut Microbes Reports.  

Trpti features LipiSperse, Saanroo’s bioavailability technology developed for gut and metabolic health applications. In states of overweight or obesity, endogenous OEA production is reduced, and this molecule signals satiety and metabolic functions. It activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-a (PPAR-a), which promotes the breakdown of fat and curbs food intake, Saanroo reported. OEA also stimulates GLP-1 release via a G protein-coupled receptor (GPR119)-dependent mechanism, demonstrating an upward trend in GLP-1 concentrations after six and 12 weeks.

In the present randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 57 overweight adults with BMI between 30 and 40 received either 300 mg of Trpti per day or a placebo for 12 weeks. After the intervention, it was shown that Trpti selectively targeted beneficial bacteria without disrupting overall stability of the microbiome; diversity remained stable but beneficial compositional shifts occurred, including:

• Significant reductions in body weight in participants with a BMI under 35 at baseline.
• Significant enrichment of Akkermansia muciniphila compared to the placebo. This species is known for supporting glucose metabolism and mucosal integrity in the gut.
• Increases in Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, a butyrate-producing bacteria linked to healthy inflammatory effects and gut health.
• Positive immune responses including increased IL-2 and reduced IL-1b at week six, and long-term improvement in gut barrier integrity markers such as increased circulating occludin at week 12.

“This study demonstrates that supplementation with Trpti, Saanroo’s bioavailable form of OEA, helps maintain a healthy microbiome. Trpti supplementation showed enrichment of beneficial species, notably Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, linked to improved gut barrier function, metabolic health, and anti-inflammatory activity,” said Ramasamy Venkatesh, managing director at Saanroo/Gencor Pacific. “Trpti supplementation promoted a more favorable gut microbiome signature and microbial functional capacity, with trends toward modest metabolic benefits, while maintaining safety and tolerability.”