Fujifilm Elucidates the Mechanism of Salacinol in Suppressing Sugar Breakdown/Absorption and Improving Gut Environment

Fujifilm Corporation (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Teiichi Goto) announced that it has elucidated the in vivo mechanism of action of 'Salacinol,' a Salacia-derived ingredient used in its 'Metabarrier' and 'Metabarrier Premium EX' Foods with Function Claims, in a joint study with Kobe University and Showa Sangyo Co., Ltd.

Through this collaborative research, the companies revealed part of the mechanism by which 'Salacinol' contributes to improving the intestinal environment. It was found that Salacinol inhibits the breakdown of not only disaccharides, as was previously known, but also various sugars of trisaccharides and larger, allowing these sugars to reach the large intestine.

Furthermore, it was confirmed that 'Salacinol' may increase the amount of isomaltooligosaccharide reaching the large intestine by inhibiting its breakdown. Isomaltooligosaccharide is an active ingredient in Foods for Specified Health Uses.

These findings will be presented jointly by the three parties at the 80th Annual Meeting of the Japan Society of Nutrition and Food Science, starting May 15, 2026. Leveraging these research results, Fujifilm plans to further strengthen the development of supplements and functional foods, including the 'Metabarrier' series.

Research Background

Fujifilm has been applying advanced analysis and evaluation technologies developed in the photography field to the healthcare sector, engaging in the research of functional food ingredients and product development. Among these, the company has focused on 'Salacinol,' a Salacia-derived ingredient expected to suppress sugar absorption from meals and positively affect the intestinal environment, and has conducted continuous research and development for about 20 years.

Carbohydrates such as starch in cooked rice are broken down into polysaccharides by enzymes in the body, and then further broken down into monosaccharides in the small intestine for absorption. 'Salacinol' is known to suppress the breakdown and absorption of sugar by inhibiting the action of digestive enzymes in the small intestine. It has also been reported that the intake of 'Salacinol' significantly increases beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacteria. However, the in vivo mechanism of action, such as 'which types of polysaccharides' breakdown is inhibited by Salacinol' and 'how these polysaccharides affect intestinal bacteria after reaching the large intestine,' remained unclear.

Therefore, to more precisely capture the movement of sugar breakdown and absorption in the intestine after taking 'Salacinol,' Fujifilm, together with Kobe University and Showa Sangyo Co., Ltd., newly constructed a 'Carbohydrate Digestion and Fermentation Model' (hereafter, digestion and fermentation model). This evaluation model can replicate the process of carbohydrate 'digestion' up to the small intestine and 'fermentation' in the large intestine. Using this model, the companies compared the types and proportions of sugars remaining unabsorbed in the small intestine with and without 'Salacinol' added to carbohydrates, and analyzed the impact on the intestinal environment after these sugars transitioned to the large intestine.

In addition, this joint research focused on isomaltooligosaccharide, known as an ingredient that reaches the large intestine to feed beneficial bacteria and improve the intestinal environment by multiplying Bifidobacteria. The study verified the impact of 'Salacinol's' sugar breakdown inhibitory effect on the breakdown of isomaltooligosaccharide during the digestive process.

Details of the Research Findings

1. Confirmed the possibility that 'Salacinol' inhibits the breakdown of various sugars, including disaccharides and trisaccharides and larger.

Using the digestion and fermentation model to replicate the digestion process of carbohydrates (cooked rice), the breakdown behavior of carbohydrates in the presence of 'Salacinol' was analyzed in detail. The results confirmed that in the digestion and fermentation model with 'Salacinol' added, more disaccharides and sugars of trisaccharides or larger remained unabsorbed over time compared to the model without the addition. This revealed the possibility that 'Salacinol' inhibits the breakdown of not only the previously known disaccharides but also sugars with larger molecular weights, such as trisaccharides and above (see [Graph 1] below).

Furthermore, it was discovered that disaccharides and various sugars of trisaccharides and larger that reach the large intestine unabsorbed due to 'Salacinol' can become food for a wide range of beneficial intestinal bacteria, potentially promoting the growth of various beneficial bacteria. With these results, the possibility was found that 'Salacinol' contributes to the function of improving the intestinal environment by inhibiting the breakdown of various sugars and delivering more of them to the large intestine.

In the model with 'Salacinol' added, more disaccharides and sugars of trisaccharides or larger remained unabsorbed, confirming the possibility that 'Salacinol' inhibits the breakdown of not only disaccharides but also various sugars of trisaccharides and larger.

2. Confirmed that 'Salacinol' inhibits the breakdown of isomaltooligosaccharide and promotes the growth of Bifidobacteria.

Using the digestion and fermentation model, the digestion process of isomaltooligosaccharide was replicated to verify the breakdown behavior in the body when combined with 'Salacinol.' As a result, in the digestion and fermentation model with 'Salacinol' added, compared to the model without the addition, isomaltooligosaccharide was broken down