One of the new keywords gaining attention in modern medicine is 'gut microbiota'. Just a decade ago, microorganisms were considered merely ancillary entities within the digestive system. However, recent studies have revealed that gut microbiota broadly influence the immune system, metabolic diseases, and the brain's nervous system. It is increasingly confirmed that the gut environment is a key factor determining overall human health.

Rediscovery of Rice Bran

In South Korea, 'SGLAB (Jangsalim Research Institute)' has been a pioneer in this field of research. SGLAB focused on the fact that improving the gut environment is essential for beneficial bacteria to establish themselves. Particularly, by actively introducing the concept of prebiotics, they concentrated on creating a 'soil' for beneficial bacteria to settle, beyond merely supplementing probiotics. The key material chosen by SGLAB was rice bran. Long regarded as a by-product, rice bran contains abundant fiber, antioxidants, and minerals, showing excellent effects in improving the gut environment. However, the fiber is in a very hard polymer form, making it difficult to utilize except for ruminants like cows.

To solve this, SGLAB developed the 'Jogang Biotics' product line, processing rice bran into fiber consumable by humans through a high-temperature steaming process. This patented technology is presented in various forms such as powder, granules, and tea, allowing consumers to easily incorporate it into their daily lives. There is ample academic evidence supporting this. Numerous studies have shown that short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), produced during the metabolism of fiber by gut microbiota, serve as nutrients for intestinal epithelial cells, suppress inflammation, and contribute to the improvement of metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. This supports the scientific validity of Jogang Biotics research.

Challenge for a 120-Year Healthy Lifespan

SGLAB aims to extend human healthy lifespan to over 120 years through the activation of gut microbiota. While this may seem somewhat reckless, considering the fact that the gut microbiome is connected to overall immune, metabolic, and mental health, it is not an unfounded claim. In fact, research results are emerging that show the aging process itself is closely related to changes in the gut environment.

Professor Jung Yoon-hwa from Dankook University's Department of Food and Nutrition stated, "While the intake of probiotics is important, it is also crucial to create an environment where they can settle and proliferate well in the gut," emphasizing, "Prebiotics serve as food for beneficial bacteria, enriching the soil of the gut ecosystem, and thus, consistent intake is essential for creating a healthy gut environment."

The most important point is that research on gut microbiota has social and industrial ripple effects beyond individual health. In rapidly aging South Korean society, healthy lifespan is directly linked to not only individual quality of life but also the national healthcare burden. Functional foods like prebiotics are gaining attention as alternatives to safeguard public health and as new growth engines for the industry. The global market is experiencing double-digit growth annually, and domestic demand is rapidly increasing. If the 500,000 tons of rice bran produced annually can be utilized as a catalyst for improving national health, it could become a groundbreaking solution to overcome a super-aged society.

SGLAB's challenge is a process of exploring new possibilities at the intersection of the medical and food industries. It demonstrates that orchestrating the microscopic world of gut microbiota can be the foundation for long-term human health. Ultimately, making the gut healthy goes beyond mere digestive function to provide a solution for enjoying longevity and extending the economically active age in an era of demographic decline. Gut microbiota is no longer an optional research subject but a necessary one, and various prebiotic products, including Jogang Biotics, are establishing themselves as concrete solutions for public health. This small movement that started in South Korea is being watched to see if it will lead to a global paradigm shift in health.

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