Sustained Visceral Fat Loss with Exclusive 14-Day Elemental Diet: New Clinical Findings Released at FNM 2024

In a significant advancement for patients battling GI dysfunction, new results from the 2023 clinical trial utilizing mBIOTA Elemental™ Diet were presented by Nicha Wongjarupong, Advanced GI Motility Fellow Cedars-Sinai, at the 2024 Federation of Neurogastroenterology & Motility Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand. These results showcased a sustained reduction in visceral and total body fat through a novel 14-day elemental diet (mBIOTA Elemental™) spotlighting the potential of the mBIOTA Elemental™ diet as a pioneering therapeutic for individuals managing GI disorders. 

mBIOTA Elemental™, an exclusive, palatable, and isocaloric regimen, was evaluated in a cohort of 30 adults diagnosed with Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) and/or Intestinal Methanogen Overgrowth (IMO). Participants adhered to a two-week elemental diet followed by two weeks on a regular diet, with body composition assessed at baseline, week 2, and week 4. Key metrics, including body weight, total body fat, and visceral fat area, were measured using advanced bioelectrical impedance technology. Results demonstrated a marked and statistically significant reduction in both total body fat and visceral fat after the two-week dietary intervention, with these benefits extending beyond the diet period.

Key Findings:

• A mean reduction in body weight by 5% at week 2 and a sustained 4% reduction at week 4.
• Visceral fat area decreased by 9.6% at week 2 and continued to decline, reaching an 11.2% reduction at week 4.
• Total body fat decreased significantly, while only a minimal reduction in lean body mass was observed.

Notably, the fat loss persisted even after participants resumed their regular diets, indicating the potential for this elemental diet to promote lasting changes in body composition. This study's implications are particularly relevant as it suggests that the mBIOTA Elemental™ diet could support non-sarcopenic fat loss, a promising avenue for future research into metabolic and hormonal mechanisms underlying this sustained weight reduction.

Table 1 Body composition metrics at baseline, week 2 (immediate after elemental diet completion), and week 4 (2 weeks after elemental diet)

Health Benefits of Visceral Fat Loss

For patients with GI disorders, concerns about weight loss often focus on the importance of maintaining muscle and lean body mass. The findings from the mBIOTA Elemental™ diet trial are especially encouraging as they indicate that weight reduction was largely due to a decrease in visceral fat, with minimal impact on lean body mass.

Visceral fat, which surrounds internal organs, is often linked to increased inflammation and heightened risk of metabolic conditions such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Reducing visceral fat not only lowers these health risks but can also contribute to improved gut health, immune response, and overall metabolic function. Unlike subcutaneous fat, visceral fat loss is associated with lower systemic inflammation, which can be particularly beneficial for individuals with gastrointestinal conditions, where inflammation plays a key role in symptoms.

With these benefits in mind, the mBIOTA Elemental™ presents a balanced approach to weight management that promotes fat loss in a healthful manner, allowing patients to reduce visceral fat while maintaining muscle mass—essential for physical strength, metabolism, and overall health.

These findings add to the growing body of research on elemental diets as therapeutic options for gastrointestinal conditions. mBIOTA Labs commitment to advancing patient care through innovative nutritional approaches continues to position the mBIOTA Elemental™ diet as a valuable option for GI dietary management.

mBIOTA Elemental™ is a medical food intended for use under medical supervision.