Fat reduction bioactive

Healthlinx has made a breakthrough in its collaboration with Dairy Australia after isolating a dairy-derived bioactive (LAP001) that reduces production and storage of fat in cells. Tests in rats have shown consistent weight loss after administration of the compound.

The result comes after three years working on the Dairy Australia funded project, in which proteins from the dairy waste stream were used as the source material and then fractionated. The fractionated material was screened for bioactivity and it was found that it had adipogenic activity. An independent animal study was conducted by a leading Melbourne-based research institute that confirmed activity.

“Potentially, these findings could pave the way for a nutraceutical product as a tablet or food additive that could achieve weight loss in humans,” said Nick Gatsios, managing director of HealthLinx Limited.

“If this possibility were to become a reality, Dairy Australia and HealthLinx would pursue commercialisation with the intention of making it available for public purchase. However, any product will take a number of years to develop.”

The LAP001 bioactive was shown to reduce the amount of fat produced and stored by cells in culture and animal testing was adopted to analyse this further. The test subject was a group of rats that were fed a high-fat diet over four weeks with the results indicating the LAP001 bioactive leads to a dose-dependent reduction in weight gain as well as a drop in blood glucose levels.

Further analysis is being undertaken into the histological and hormonal actions of LAP001 to gain a better understanding of its possible effects.

HealthLinx and Dairy Australia have filed provisional patents covering the preparation and bioactivity of LAP001-related compounds.