Effect of Kimchi Intake on Body Fat in Overweight Subjects

NCT05898802 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: WiKim_2210-037-119
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 90
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Kimchi, a traditional Korean food, is prepared through the fermentation of various ingredients. It has been reported that kimchi contains beneficial nutrients from its raw materials, as well as lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and their byproducts produced during fermentation. LAB play an important role in the fermentation process, during which the dominant LAB species emerge and undergo a transition process. Depending on the species and strain of LAB, it has specific functions such as promoting weight loss, reducing inflammation, and lowering cholesterol levels. In this study, the effects of kimchi produced from traditional recipe or kimchi fermented with lactic acid bacteria, which have anti-obesity effects, on body composition changes and metabolic disease index will be investigated in subjects with a BMI of between 23\~30kg / m2.

Conditions

Obesity

Keywords

Kimchi; Lactic acid bacteria

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Fat mass change in 12-week

  Fat mass is measured by DEXA(Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry)

  Baseline (Visit 2, Day 0) and Week 12 (Visit 4, Day 84 ±7)

Secondary Outcomes (15)

• Changes in body mass index (BMI)

  Baseline, Week 6, Week 12

• Changes in body weight

  Baseline, Week 6, Week 12

• Changes in waist to hip ratio (WHR)

  Baseline, Week 6, Week 12

• Changes in Body fat ratio (%)

  Baseline and Week 12

• Changes in Body lean mass (kg)

  Baseline and Week 12

Study Arms (3)

Kimchi inoculated Leuconostoc mesenteroides

EXPERIMENTAL

3,600mg/day containing 80% Kimchi inoculated Leuconostoc mesenteroides powder (3 tablets 3 times per day after meals over the 16-week regimen)

Dietary Supplement: Kimchi

Kimchi

EXPERIMENTAL

3,600mg/day containing 80% Kimchi powder (3 tablets 3 times per day after meals over the 16-week regimen)

Dietary Supplement: Kimchi

Lactose

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

3,600mg/day containing lactose placebo capsules to look identical. (3 tablets 3 times per day after meals over the 16-week regimen)

Dietary Supplement: Placebo

Interventions

Kimchi DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Two different kimchi, one traditional kimchi and one fermented with a lactic acid bacteria having anti-obesity effect, hereafter starter kimchi, are flash freeze dried, powdered and encapsulated.

Kimchi; Kimchi inoculated Leuconostoc mesenteroides

Placebo DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Lactose with kimchi flavor

Lactose

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 20 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Willing to consent to study participation and to comply with study requirements
• Male and female subjects, 20-65 years of age
• BMI of 23-30 kg/m2
• Those who agreed not to consume Kimchi during the clinical study

You may not qualify if:

• Patients with crucial cerebrovascular disease (cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage etc.), or heart failure (angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, heart failure, arrhythmia etc.) or malignancy within 6 months
• Uncontrolled hypertension (Elevated blood pressure (\>160/\>100))
• Thyroid function test abnormality
• Patients with significantly impaired kidney function: serume creatinine levels ≥2 times upper limit of normal
• Patients with significantly impaired liver function: ALT or AST≥3 times upper limit of normal
• Irregular or occasional gastrointestinal disorders (heartburn, indigestion, etc.)
• Having taken drugs with a known influence on weight in the previous 1 month, such as diet pills, anti-depression drugs, beta-blockers, diuretic, contraceptives, corticosteroids, or female hormones
• Participation in other dietary programmes or services within 3 months
• Participation in other clinical trials within the past 1 month
• Alcohol abuse
• Quitted smoking within 3 months
• Pregnancy or lactation or planning on becoming pregnant
• Have a Kimchi allergy
• Those who are judged unsuitable by the researcher for other reasons
• Taking probiotics within 2 weeks

Sponsors & Collaborators

• World Institute of Kimchi: lead

Study Sites (1)

Pusan National University Hospital

Busan, 49241, South Korea

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Lee W, Moon HR, Choi H, Lee HJ, Kim Y, Kim HJ, Yun YR, Kwon MS, Hong SW. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals that kimchi dietary intervention modulates human antigen-presenting and CD4(+) T cells. NPJ Sci Food. 2025 Nov 17;9(1):236. doi: 10.1038/s41538-025-00593-7.

  PMID: 41249184 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Obesity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Overweight; Overnutrition; Nutrition Disorders; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Body Weight; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Wooje Lee, ph.D

  World Institute of Kimchi

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Myungjun Shin, M.D., Ph.D.

  Pusan National University Hospital

  STUDY CHAIR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
• Masking Details: Participants or study staff working with them will not know what supplements they are receiving.
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER GOV
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Senior Researcher

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 2, 2023
• First Posted: June 12, 2023
• Study Start: July 21, 2023
• Primary Completion: November 9, 2023
• Study Completion: November 9, 2023
• Last Updated: July 10, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

KR (1)