Materials for improving muscle strength that are attracting attention from an ultra-aging society...Korea-U.S. Environmental Co., Ltd. Develops Health Functional Food Using Edible Insects
Sep 30, 2025
|
Among these, the development of domestic materials using edible insects raised in our farms has recently attracted attention as a national project of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.
Edible insects are attracting attention not only as an alternative protein material but also as an innovative solution to prevent muscle weakness and cognitive decline in an aging society.
Hanmi Yang Bank Co., Ltd. announced that it has invested 2 billion won in joint research over four years in collaboration with Gachon University and the Korea Institute for Functional Food, and succeeded in human application tests at Seoul National University.
The organization, Hanmi Yang, conducted process development and production standardization research, Professor Lee Hae-jung of Gachon University conducted functional evaluation and mechanism identification using cell and animal models, and the Korea Institute of Functional Food under the Korea Health Functional Food Association conducted index component analysis and specification setting, respectively.
The research team first established the enzymatic hydrolysis process of B. subtilis (brown mealworm larvae) and confirmed the effect of protecting muscle cells and improving muscle function through animal experiments. Cytotoxicity was reduced in cytotoxic-induced muscle cells and increased muscle strength and muscle mass in mice. In addition, it was confirmed that biomarkers affecting muscle loss were suppressed in blood and tissues and inflammation of muscle cells was reduced.
Based on this, a human application test was conducted on the elderly, and it was found that the group of high-grade hydrolysate intake significantly improved in the primary evaluation index, grip strength, and lower limb muscle strength evaluation. Professor Song Wook of Seoul National University, Director of Human Application Testing, evaluated "The groundbreaking results showing that significantly improved data in both primary and secondary indicators can provide practical help in improving muscle strength." In particular, it selected specific peptide components produced during hydrolysis, identified peptides composed of four amino acids as indicator components, developed analytical methods, and standardized hydrolysate raw materials, and established quality standards that meet the optimization process and standard standards through repeated production.
In addition, based on these achievements, the research team recently applied to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to register individually recognized health functional foods with muscle improvement functions, and published the results in a number of SCI-level journals to secure academic credibility. Related technologies have also led to patents such as ▲ muscle cell aging inhibition composition (patent No. 10-2750104) and ▲ cognitive function improvement composition (patent No. 10-2750102).
Hanmi Yang, which started research for industrialization of edible insects with the National Agricultural Research Institute of the Agricultural Development Administration in 2015, registered HACCP, the first processed insect food in Korea in 2016. So far, it has 28 patents related to edible insects, and has won the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Award in recognition of its research results. It has continued research and development of edible insects, focusing on a separate research team called the Future Food Research Institute for the Korean and U.S. Yanghaeng.
Based on this achievement, Hanmi Yang plans to develop health functional foods to improve muscle strength and explore domestic and international markets, while also examining the effectiveness of improving cognitive function, which has been confirmed in animal testing, through additional human application tests.
Meanwhile, the results of this study are expected to lead to an increase in income for farmers raising edible insects and revitalizing the processing and distribution industry. In particular, industrial synergy is expected with the creation of the Green Bio Insect Industry Base Complex of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, which is being promoted in Yecheon-gun, Chuncheon-si and Namwon-si.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
