Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Beta-Glucan from Chima Mushroom Improves Intestinal Function

Proven Efficacy in Human Trials... Published in International Peer-Reviewed Journal

Jeonbuk National University Hospital (Director Yoo Hee-cheol) announced on the 14th that the research team at the Functional Food Clinical Trial Support Center has proven that beta-glucan extracted from Chima mushroom is effective in improving bowel function.

The research team, including Professor Lee Seung-ok of the Department of Gastroenterology at Jeonbuk National University Hospital and researcher Jang Hee-yeon who planned the clinical trial, confirmed the efficacy of Chima mushroom-derived beta-glucan on the gut microbiome and bowel function improvement through human application tests.

The research results were published in an international specialized academic journal (Journal of Functional Foods, ranked in the top 20% in the nutrition and dietetic field, Impact Factor: 5.6).

Jang Heeyeon, Researcher at the Functional Food Clinical Trial Support Center, Jeonbuk National University Hospital.
[Photo by Jeonbuk National University Hospital]

The research team confirmed that an 8-week intake of beta-glucan in adults with constipation increased bowel movement frequency and beneficial gut bacteria, resulting in a reduction of colon transit time (CTT).

Researcher Jang Hee-yeon stated, "We have secured scientific clinical data on the new functional bowel movement benefits of beta-glucan derived from Chima mushroom, classified as a non-digestible polysaccharide," adding, "It is expected to contribute to the domestic health functional food industry through domestic health functional food and ingredient registration and academic marketing by the developer, Qgen Biotech Co., Ltd."

Meanwhile, this research project was conducted with support from Qgen Biotech Co., Ltd. and the Rural Development Administration’s Agricultural Life Bio Food and Pharmaceutical Material Development Project.

Jeonbuk National University Hospital’s Functional Food Clinical Trial Support Center, established in 2004, is the only institution in Korea selected by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to conduct clinical trials on functional foods and health functional foods. Since 2007, it has conducted over 320 clinical trials related to K-food and food. It supports safety evaluation and commercialization of food functions in cooperation with medical staff, including the individual recognition registration of 25 health functional food functional ingredients by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.