Monascus Pilosus Fermented Composition for Weight Loss via Gut Microbiota

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for overweight and obesity, such as exercise, calorie-controlled diets, and medications, are often unsustainable and can have adverse effects, while surgical procedures are costly and uncertain, lacking effective and safe alternatives for weight loss and gut microbiota improvement.

Innovation Solution

A composition containing Monascus pilosus fermented products, including Monascinol, is used to enhance the abundance of beneficial gut bacteria like Bacteroidales, Verrucomicrobiales, and Bifidobacteriales, reducing the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio, thereby aiding weight loss and improving gut microbiota without adverse effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional weight loss treatments (exercise, calorie-controlled diet, medications) are used, then weight loss can be achieved, but sustainability is poor and adverse effects occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight loss effectivenessVSAvoidadverse effects on patient body
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effects of conventional weight loss medications into benefits by using natural Monascus pilosus fermentation products that achieve weight loss without adverse effects. The fermented products contain active ingredients that regulate gut microbiota and metabolism naturally, eliminating the need for harmful pharmaceutical interventions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces Monascus pilosus fermented products as an intermediary substance between diet and weight loss. This intermediary acts through modulation of gut microbiota composition, specifically increasing Bacteroidales and Verrucomicrobiales while decreasing Firmicutes, thereby achieving weight loss through a natural biological mediator rather than direct pharmaceutical action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If surgical procedures (liposuction, gastrectomy, gastric bypass) are used for weight loss, then significant weight reduction is achieved, but costs increase and procedure uncertainty remains

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight loss effectivenessVSAvoidprocedure complexity and cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical surgical interventions with a biological system-based approach. Instead of physically altering the digestive tract through surgery, the invention uses Monascus pilosus fermented products to biologically modulate gut microbiota, achieving weight loss through microbial regulation rather than mechanical procedure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes expensive, invasive surgical procedures with an affordable, non-invasive oral supplementation approach. The fermented products can be easily administered through daily oral intake, eliminating the need for costly surgical infrastructure and procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If natural methods (dietary therapy, physical exercise) are used for weight loss, then health is maintained, but effectiveness is unsatisfactory and sustainability is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehealth maintenanceVSAvoidweight loss effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of gut microbiota composition through Monascus pilosus fermentation. By specifically increasing Bacteroidales and Verrucomicrobiales while decreasing Firmicutes, the invention creates favorable microbial conditions that enhance weight loss effectiveness compared to conventional dietary and exercise approaches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite fermented products containing multiple active ingredients from Monascus pilosus fermentation. These composite materials include various bioactive compounds that work synergistically to regulate metabolism and gut microbiota, providing enhanced weight loss effectiveness compared to single-component interventions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The composition effectively reduces body weight and enhances gut microbiota by increasing beneficial bacterial abundance, addressing obesity-related health issues like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer, with a safe and sustainable oral administration.

Implementation Method 1

the Monascus pilosus fermented product is prepared by fermenting a base material by a Monascus pilosus

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFermentation: Fermentation

Data Source

PatentEP4659593A1Monascus pilosus strain, composition for losing weight and improving gut microbiota composition and use of said monascus pilosus
Publication Date: 2025.12.10 SUNWAY BIOTECH
  • EP4659593A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4659593A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4659593A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a Monascus pilosus strain and a composition for weight loss and improvement of gut microbiota composition. The composition comprises Monascus pilosus and/or its fermented product, or comprises an active ingredient of its fermented product. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a use of Monascus pilosus in the manufacture of a composition for weight loss and improvement of gut microbiota composition. The composition of the present invention has the ability to reduce body weight and improve gut microbiota, such as lowering the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes.