A new clinical study published in Food & Function found that a steamed ginger extract marketed as Zinoact by 3H Labs supported measures of weight loss over a placebo, including reducing body fat and total weight while improving cholesterol levels.

The ginger extract will be introduced at Vitafoods Europe at Booth #D154G.

Ginger is rich in phenolic compounds, including volatile essential oils and non-volatile oleoresins such as gingerols, shogaols, paradols, and zingerone. These compounds have antioxidant and inflammatory-modulating properties. However, the volatile nature of some of these constituents makes them unstable and prone to degradation during processing and storage. This results in high variability in finished products.

3H Labs sought to address this hurdle via a unique controlled steaming process designed to enhance the bioavailability and active potency of ginger.

“By applying a special steaming process to ginger prior to extraction, key bioactive compounds such as 1-dehydro-6-gingerdione are increased up to 10 times compared to untreated ginger,” said Jerry Bae, CEO and founder of 3H LABS. “This allows the extract to deliver maximized anti-inflammatory and antioxidant efficacy. Our patented steaming process not only can help boost functional efficacy and bioavailability but also improves shelf stability and the flavor profile of the extract.”

The clinical study on the product, conducted at Santosh Hospital in Bangalore, India, enrolled 80 overweight adults with a high BMI. Participants were administered either a 480 mg dose of Zinoact daily or a placebo, while instructed to maintain their usual diets and physical activity routines.

After 12 weeks, the Zinoact group showed reductions in weight, body fat percentage, and body fat mass compared to the placebo group, as measured by DEXA scans. Decreases in BMI, waist circumference, and hip circumference were also observed among subjects taking Zinoact. The treatment group also saw significant reductions in blood triglycerides and total cholesterol levels. No adverse events were reported, indicating the ingredient was well-tolerated.

“It is known that obesity increases the risk of developing other metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, unhealthy fat levels, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease,” said Ryan Lee, PhD, research director at 3H Labs. “This study demonstrated the potential of our highly-concentrated ginger extract to exert a positive impact not only on weight management but also on metabolic function.”

Preclinical models suggest that Zinoact’s mechanism of action has to do with activating the protein AMPK, which inhibits fat production and storage. At the same time, it increases the activity of proteins involved in insulin signaling and glucose transport, allowing cells to respond better to insulin and regulate blood sugar levels more effectively.

3H Labs’ proprietary ginger extract is sourced via collaboration with carefully selected farms to ensure a secure, consistent, and sustainable supply of high-quality ginger from fertile soils in an agriculture-friendly natural environment.

The raw material is steamed and dried before extraction, resulting in a powder that harnesses a 10-fold volume of ginger’s active compounds, the company reported. High-performance liquid chromatography confirms its content of at least 0.9 mg/g of thermally stable 1-dehydro-6-gingerdione, a key compound responsible for ginger’s beneficial effects and a concentration not typically present in raw ginger.

Another study found that Zinoact can support joint health; a recent human clinical study on 100 participants with mild knee osteoarthritis found that Zinoact resulted in an almost five-fold reduction in pain scores compared to a placebo group, and a more than 60% reduction in stiffness and loss of knee function. The ingredient was also shown to improve exercise endurance and pain threshold and reduce knee swelling and cartilage degradation, while preserving type II collagen and aggrecan in the joints.

“Ginger extract’s ability to relieve pain in OA patients is well-documented, yet a generous dose is required to achieve this effect, which can overwhelm the digestive system,” said Bae. “Zinoact was developed to provide increased beneficial effects at modest doses while being gentle on the gut.”