5/23/2005 - Leading US supplement retailer GNC is rolling out the firstproduct containing the satiety ingredient Olibra, a combination of palmand oat oil fractions developed by Sweden’s LTP Lipid TechnologiesProvider, reports Dominique Patton.

The product, a liquid supplement that can be added to a meal or taken as asingle shot, is expected to be followed by functional food launches inEurope at the end of this year.The Swedish dairy Skanemejerier bought rights to the ingredient(previously known as Reducal) for a weight control range in 2003 althougha yoghurt in Italy is likely to reach the market before Skane’s products,according to Jorgen Quick, LTP managing director.

He noted that supplements require shorter development time than foods butthe established safety of Olibra's main raw materials will make it easierto introduce into the food category than many other nutraceuticalsdesigned to help control weight, such as botanicals or new ingredients nottraditionally used in foods. These must submit safety dossiers to Europeanauthorities before being permitted on the market.

Olibra however is made from two very common food ingredients - palm oiland oat oil - which are then fractionated by LTP at its plant in Swedenand formulated into a novel emulsion.

"These are normal food fats. But it is unique because we have combinedthem in a very smart way," Quick told NutraIngredients.com.

He added that their effect on hunger is very similar to that seen aftereating a meal, with the fats being transported to the normal sites ofaction on satiety, prolonging the feeling of fullness.

"To be honest, if you eat a large bowl of oat porridge you would probablyget the same effect. It is as simple as that. But this is an opportunityfor people who don’t want to eat lots of oats to gain the same benefit,"continued Quick.

This apparently simple satiety effect has been demonstrated in fourpublished clinical studies that show reductions of between 20 and 30 percent in caloric intake at meals consumed after the supplement. The mostrecent was reported in the April 2002 issue of the European Journal ofClinical Nutrition by a team from the University of Ulster.

The benefits of being able to influence satiety have an obvious advantageon weight management although Quick admitted that prolonging the feelingof fullness is just one way of helping to prevent weight gain.

"There are a number of other factors [aside from appetite] involved inweight gain. This is not a pharmacological product but it is somethingthat can help people to eat less," he said.

GNC, which has exclusive rights for use of the ingredient in supplementsin the US market, has launched Olibra as a major extension of its TotalLean weight management brand. Called Total Lean-Reduce, the single 7.5gdose can be added to normal food eaten at mealtimes.

LTP is also in discussion with some major food companies in Europe forproduct launches at the end of this year or early 2006.

Olibra can be incorporated into many food categories, including yoghurt,soups, nutritional beverages and ready prepared meals.

LTP says it has several thousands of tons of capacity available to meetnew contracts.