Suntory Global Innovation Center Limited (President: Masato Arishiro, Minato-ku, Tokyo) announced at the 21^st European Congress on Obesity (held on: May 28th-31st, 2014, at: Sophia, Bulgaria) that Quercetin glucoside-enriched beverages demonstrated dose-responsive*¹ efficacy in decreasing body fat when consumed continuously.

*1    Dose-responsive means
efficacy shown is dependent on the amount of active ingredient.

This announcement's outline is as follows:

▼Subject of the announcement: "Quercetin glucoside-enriched beverage reduced body fat in obese human."

▼Presenter: Suntory Global Innovation Center Limited, R&D
            Junichi Nakamura, Makiko Yoshimura, Masaaki Uchida, Nobuyuki Fukui

< Research background >

Until now, Suntory has demonstrated that Quercetin glucoside-enriched beverages decrease body fat when consumed continuously. This time, dose-responsive efficacy of Quercetin glucoside-enriched beverages in decreasing body fat has been confirmed.

< Methodology >

A trial was conducted among 80 adult males and females with Class I obesity (Body Mass Index*²: BMI being 25kg/m² to less than 30kg/m²) According to the amount of Quercetin glucoside contained, trial participants were evenly split into 4 groups: (1) Control group (group consuming beverages that do not contain Quercetin glucoside), (2) Low dose group (group consuming beverages containing 60mg of Quercetin glucoside), (3) Medium dose group (group consuming beverages containing 110mg of Quercetin glucoside), and (4) High dose group (group consuming beverages containing 160mg of Quercetin glucoside). Participants continuously consumed Quercetin glucoside-enriched beverages once a day for 12 weeks. Dose-responsive efficacy of Quercetin glucoside was evaluated by measuring the abdominal total fat area shown in CT scans taken every 4 weeks. Also note that the amount of Quercetin glucoside is indicated by converting it to isoquercitin*³.

< Results >

No significant change in abdominal total fat area prior to and after consuming the trial beverages was demonstrated among the control and low dose group; however, a significant decrease in abdominal total fat area was proven among the medium and high dose groups (Refer to Graph 1). Based on these results, it was made apparent that continuous consumption of Quercetin glucoside-enriched beverages has a dose-responsive efficacy in decreasing body fat, and that the effective dosage as isoquercitin is 110mg or more. In addition, no adverse events were seen among all participants of this trial as a result of consuming the trial beverage.

- Graph 1: Shift in Abdominal Total Fat Area -

Suntory Beverage & Food Group will continue to collaborate with Suntory Global Innovation Center Limited in the field of manufacturing/marketing business for beverages and food and will harness the research results to value-added creations.

▼About the European Congress on Obesity (ECO)
The European Congress on Obesity (ECO) is the most important annual congress on Obesity held in Europe, which is committed to addressing and resolving the key issues caused by Obesity.

*2    Body Mass Index: BMI is
an international index to evaluate the degree of obesity by appearance and is calculated using the formula BMI=weight (kg) / [height (m) X height (m)]. For Japanese, people whose BMI is less than 18.5kg/m² are categorized as "underweight," 18.5kg/m² to less than 25kg/m² as "normal weight," 25kg/m² to less than 30kg/m² as "class I obesity," 30kg/m2 to less than 35kg/m² as "class 2 obesity," 35kg/m² to less than 40kg/m2 as "class 3 obesity," and 40kg/m² or more as "class 4 obesity," the standard value is considered to be 22kg/m².

*3    Isoquercitin is
a type of Quercetin glucoside in which 1 glucose molecule has binded to Quercetin. It is converted for convenience.

*4    About the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO)
EASO is a membership association which promotes the study of obesity as well as facilitating and engaging in actions that reduce the burden of unhealthy excess weight in Europe through prevention and management. EASO comprises 31 National Association Members, which among them represent more than 4,000 individuals across Europe.

Suntory Global Innovation Center Limited website: http://www.suntory.co.jp/sic/

Suntory Beverage & Food Limited website: http://www.suntory.com/sbf/