A Phase 0 randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial assigned 42 healthy adults to placebo or 0.9 or 1.8 g/day of sericin-derived oligopeptides for eight weeks. No serious adverse events occurred, major clinical measures did not differ between groups and overall microbiota structure remained stable. This supports preliminary short-term tolerability, not metabolic efficacy.
Key findings
- Forty-one participants (97.6%) completed the trial with over 98% compliance. No serious adverse events occurred; primary measures stayed clinically normal with no group differences (p>0.05). Glucose, lipids and oxidative-stress markers showed no adverse signal. Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes remained dominant, and occasional mild gastrointestinal symptoms were not clearly dose-dependent.
Why this matters globally
Sericin is a silk-industry by-product. Turning it into a food ingredient could add value and reduce waste if safety, manufacturing consistency and efficacy are established. This trial is only a first human step for one specific preparation.
Thai researcher contribution
Naresuan University and Suranaree University of Technology developed the yellow-silk-cocoon preparation and conducted a multidisciplinary human study spanning pharmacy, medicine, food technology and microbiome analysis.
Limitations to consider
Only 42 healthy adults were followed for eight weeks, limiting detection of rare, long-term or vulnerable-population effects. This Phase 0 study was not powered for metabolic benefit. 16S profiling has limited functional resolution, and findings apply to this SDO preparation, not all sericin products.