The company has launched in South Korea two health supplement products targeted at blood sugar management and body fat reduction under its brand JungKwanJang - formerly known as Cheong Kwan Jang.
The two products, named GLPro Core and GLPro Doublecut, are targeted at blood sugar management. The latter also claims to support body fat reduction.
The development comes after JungKwanJang’s red ginseng was officially recognised by KFDA for its blood sugar control functionality this year.
Red ginseng is known for its immune support and energy support benefits.
With KFDA’s latest approval, red ginseng is now recognised by the Korean authority for seven functionalities.
Aside from assisting with blood sugar control, enhancing immune function, reducing fatigue, the four other functionalities are improving blood circulation, providing antioxidant benefits, supporting memory improvement, and promoting women’s health during menopause.
Speaking to NutraIngredients-Asia, the company said that it started exploring the anti-diabetic effects of Korean red ginseng about five years ago and came to uncover that it can improve six biomarkers related to blood sugar control, including increasing the body’s production of the appetite hormone glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1).
The GLP-1 hormone works by reducing feelings of hunger, in turn leading to a lower caloric intake and supporting weight reduction.
The GLP-1 space has been dominated by “blockbuster drugs” and injections, including Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro.
However, there has been a surge in interest from health and nutrition companies in the past year, with companies such as Nestle Health Science and GNC jumping on the bandwagon.
Nestle, for instance, said it was introducing a line of foods “intended to be a companion for GLP-1 weight loss medication users and consumers focused on weight management.”
For KGC, aside from increased GLP-1 secretion, it also found that red ginseng could improve 1) fasting blood sugar, 2) postprandial blood sugar, 3) glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), 4) insulin resistance and 5) adiponectin levels.
“KGC began studying the anti-diabetic effects of Korean red ginseng and blood sugar regulation about five years ago.
“Through analysing over 600 domestic and international studies, including research conducted by KGC on the efficacy of Korean red ginseng, we identified that red ginseng is effective in regulating blood sugar levels,” said Dr Yoon-Seon Jeong, R&D manager, Natural Product Efficacy Research Center.
The company has also tested red ginseng’s effects using Type II diabetes animal model studies, as well as a clinical trial involving adults at the prediabetic stage. These participants have demonstrated from impaired fasting and postprandial blood sugar levels.
The 12-week study involved 98 adults aged 40 and above with impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance, which are both conditions associated with prediabetes.
During the trial, the participants took either two red ginseng concentrated powder tablets (500mg) or placebo tablets twice daily.
“As a key finding of the study, we identified a reduction in fasting, postprandial blood sugar and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), improvements in insulin resistance and glucose metabolism through the increased secretion of GLP-1, a hormone involved in blood sugar regulation and appetite suppression,” said Dr Jeong.
She also cited findings of a mice study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food in November 2024, which showed that red ginseng extract powder supplementation for nine weeks could significantly decrease fasting blood sugar.
In this study, mice with Type II diabetes mellitus were separated into seven groups, including the control group, the metformin group and the groups taking red ginseng extract powder at 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg.
However, to achieve a significant improvement in oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and insulin tolerance, a higher dosage at 400mg/kg would be needed.
“Based on these preclinical and clinical findings, KFDA officially recognised the blood sugar control functionality of red ginseng in 2024.
“As a result, we launched GLPro, a safe and effective product designed to support blood sugar management,” she said.
Product formulation
Aside from red ginseng, the two new launches are also formulated with other ingredients.
GLPro Core, for instance, also contains concentrated bitter melon extract, while GLPro Doublecut also contains lemon balm extract for reducing visceral fat.
Both products come in liquid shot format. However, GLPro Doublecut is also in a dual liquid shot and tablet format, with the tablet containing lemon balm extract powder for supporting body fat reduction.
The products are sold in its online store and all offline JungKwanJang stores across South Korea, as well as supermarkets, domestic duty-free stores.
“Both products are free of sugar in their daily serving and allow consumers to manage their blood sugar healthily and conveniently with just one bottle a day,” said Ju-Yeon Park, head of Brand Office, JungKwanJang.
There are also plans to formulate red ginseng with other ingredients for synergistic effects in the metabolic health space in the future.
To launch in China and US
The two GLPro products are set to launch in China and the US.
In China, the company is planning to debut the products on e-commerce platform JD.com before launching them in local markets in April 2025.
In the US, the plan is to officially launch it during March 2025.
Park said that the products have been met with strong market response in the domestic South Korean market so far, and in fact registered some of the fastest growing sales within the brand’s history.
“Within just one month, sales of GLPro Core and GLPro Doublecut in South Korea have surpassed 20,000 sets.
“This marks the fastest sales growth in the history of JungKwanJang, showcasing an enthusiastic consumer response,” she said.
Its other key export markets include Japan, Taiwan, Europe and the Middle East, with R&D centres present in Shanghai, China and Fullerton, California, in the US.
Rising diabetes calls for more solutions
The company said it decided to look into red ginseng’s potential benefits for blood sugar management due to the rising prevalence of diabetes around the world.
“The prevalence of diabetes has been rising rapidly due to factors such as genetics, obesity, aging, and unhealthy eating habits.
“Effective daily blood sugar management is critical for preventing complications related to high blood sugar,” said Dr Jeong.
In South Korea, she pointed out that approximately 40 per cent of adults over the age of 30 are in a pre-diabetic stage, highlighting the urgent need for blood sugar management even among younger populations.
Other than red ginseng, the company’s R&D centre also studies the potential health benefits of other natural ingredients, such as deer antler velvet, mushrooms, and agarwood.
