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• This randomized, controlled, assessor-blinded trial introduces a new paradigm in diabetes management, focusing on "glycemic management,'' a new metric used to measure efficacy by medication reduction.
• Glycemic Management: FMD participants demonstrated superior glycemic management, with 53% showing improvement, compared to only 8% in the control group.
• L-Nutra's patented and clinically backed nutrition technology food formulations are effective in supporting metabolism, cell renewal, and muscle protection by mimicking the reset and rejuvenation pathways of fasting.
• "With the Fasting Mimicking Diet, we have successfully enhanced the natural rejuvenating power of fasting with food which has made the regression and remission of diabetes within every patient's reach.

• Yesterday, the SLIM LIVER poster “Effects of Semaglutide on Muscle Structure and Function in the SLIM LIVER study” was presented.
• Together, these presentations demonstrate that semaglutide was highly effective in improving, and in some cases, resolving completely, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD, formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) among people living with HIV.
• SLIM LIVER is the first study evaluating semaglutide as a treatment for MASLD among people living with HIV.
• MASLD is common among people living with HIV and likely acts synergistically with HIV to accelerate liver injury and organ dysfunction.

• For instance, there is some evidence eating or drinking fermented foods can improve blood glucose control in people with diabetes.
• They can lower blood lipid (fats) levels and blood pressure in people with diabetes or obesity.
• But can they help you lose weight, as a recent study suggests?

Remind me, what are fermented foods?

• Fermented foods are ones prepared when microbes (bacteria and/or yeast) ferment (or digest) food components to form new foods.
• As a result of fermentation, the food becomes acidic, extending its shelf life (food-spoilage microbes are less likely to grow under these conditions).
• These postbiotics are thought to contribute to the health benefits of the fermented foods, alongside the health benefits of the bacteria themselves.

What does the evidence say?

• The South Korean study involved 115,726 men and women aged 40-69 who reported how much kimchi they’d eaten over the previous year.
• The study was funded by the World Institute of Kimchi, which specialises in researching the country’s national dish.
• Eating one to three servings of any type of kimchi a day was associated with a lower risk of obesity in men.
• And women who ate two to three serves a day of baechu were less likely to have obesity and abdominal obesity.

How about evidence from experimental trials?

• There have been several experimental studies looking at how much weight people lose after eating various types of fermented foods.
• Other studies looked at markers or measures of appetite, but not weight loss.

• But this did not impact their appetite or whether they felt full.
• A study in South Korea asked people to eat about 70g a day of chungkookjang (fermented soybean).
• A systematic review of all studies that looked at the impact of fermented foods on satiety (feeling full) showed no effect.

What should I do?

• These experimental studies have been short in length, and many did not report weight changes.
• To date, most of the studies have used different fermented foods, so it is difficult to generalise across them all.
• Nevertheless, fermented foods are still useful as part of a healthy, varied and balanced diet, particularly if you enjoy them.

Are there downsides?

• The latest kimchi study said the average amount of kimchi South Koreans eat provides about 490mg of salt a day.
• For an Australian, this would represent about 50% of the suggested dietary target for optimal health.

Evangeline Mantzioris is affiliated with Alliance for Research in Nutrition, Exercise and Activity (ARENA) at the University of South Australia. Evangeline Mantzioris has received funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council, and has been appointed to the National Health and Medical Research Council Dietary Guideline Expert Committee.

• Gross proceeds from the PIPE are expected to be $50.25 million, before deducting any placement agent fees and offering-related expenses.
• The PIPE financing is expected to close on January 31, 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
• The PIPE financing was co-led by a life sciences-focused investor and 5AM Ventures, with participation from Ally Bridge Group, Sphera Healthcare, Altium Capital, Driehaus Capital Management and other institutional investors.
• Piper Sandler is acting as the lead placement agent and Oppenheimer & Co. is acting as a placement agent for the PIPE financing.