A new substance called Inulin Propionate Ester (IPE) has been approved as a novel food in the EU.
The approval follows several years of evaluation, during which the European Food Safety Authority concluded that the substance is safe for consumption, according to SciTechDaily.
Researchers are now working to scale up production so that IPE can be manufactured in larger quantities. At present, only small batches can be produced.
Found in nature
IPE was developed by researchers at Imperial College London and the University of Glasgow.
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The substance combines the dietary fibre inulin, which is found in foods such as onions and chicory, with propionate, a compound that is naturally produced in the gut when bacteria break down dietary fibre.
According to the researchers' studies, IPE helps send signals from the gut to the brain that may help people feel full for longer.
Research conducted by the University of Glasgow has shown that a daily intake of around 10 grams may influence appetite.
Can be added to foods
The researchers did not develop IPE as a treatment for obesity.
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Instead, the goal is to help prevent the gradual weight gain that can occur when a person consistently consumes slightly more calories than the body burns over an extended period.
If production can be expanded, the researchers hope that IPE could be added to everyday foods such as bread, breakfast cereals, and smoothies.
In this way, the substance could become a new dietary tool for helping to prevent weight gain.
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This article is made and published by Ida-Marie Palm Varbæk, who may have used AI in the preparation.