Effect of a low energy diet, containing a high protein, probiotic condensed yogurt, on biochemical and anthropometric measurements among women with overweight/obesity: A randomised controlled trial

Impact of probiotics on weight loss, glucose and lipid metabolism in overweight or obese women: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Our meta-analysis aimed to assess the effectiveness of probiotics in weight loss and glucose and lipid metabolism in overweight or obese women. PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were used from inception until March 2024 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCT's) literature. Finally, 11 RCTs were included. Following critical appraisal, a meta-analysis was conducted using the fixed effects model and the random effects model found that probiotic consumption significantly decreased waist circumference (WC) (SMD = -0.39 cm, 95% CI: -0.60, -0.18 cm, P < 0.00001, I2 = 33%), insulin (SMD = -0.45 mcU/ml; 95% CI: -0.72, -0.18 mcU/ml; P = 0.04, I2 = 40%) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels (SMD = -0.51 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.92, -0.11 mmol/L; P = 0.02, I2 = 75%) in overweight or obese women. Moreover, subgroup analyses revealed that the effects of probiotic supplementation were significantly influenced by the intervention duration and diet and/or exercise intervention. This meta-analysis suggested that probiotic supplementation has a moderate and statistically significant effect on weight loss and glucose and lipid metabolism in overweight and obese women.

Beneficial effects of the probiotics and synbiotics supplementation on anthropometric indices and body composition in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Studies have suggested that probiotics and synbiotics can improve body weight and composition. However, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) demonstrated mixed results. Hence, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of probiotics and synbiotics on body weight and composition in adults. We searched PubMed/Medline, Ovid/Medline, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and Cochrane library up to April 2023 using related keywords. We included all RCTs investigating the effectiveness of probiotics and/or synbiotics supplementation on anthropometric indices and body composition among adults. Random-effects models were applied for performing meta-analyses. In addition, we conducted subgroup analyses and meta-regression to explore the non-linear and linear relationship between the length of follow-up and the changes in each outcome. We included a total of 200 trials with 12,603 participants in the present meta-analysis. Probiotics or synbiotics intake led to a significant decrease in body weight (weighted mean difference [WMD]: -0.91 kg; 95% CI: -1.08, -0.75; p < 0.001), body mass index (BMI) (WMD: -0.28 kg/m2 ; 95% CI: -0.36, -0.21; p < 0.001), waist circumference (WC) (WMD: -1.14 cm; 95% CI: -1.42, -0.87; p < 0.001), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (WMD: -0.01; 95% CI: -0.01, -0.00; p < 0.001), fat mass (FM) (WMD: -0.92 kg; 95% CI: -1.05, -0.79; p < 0.001), and percentage of body fat (%BF) (WMD: -0.68%; 95% CI: -0.94, -0.42; p < 0.001) compared to controls. There was no difference in fat-free mass (FFM) and lean body mass (LBM). Subgroup analyses indicated that probiotics or synbiotics administered as food or supplement resulted in significant changes in anthropometric indices and body composition. However, compared to controls, FM and %BF values were only reduced after probiotic consumption. Our results showed that probiotics or synbiotics have beneficial effects on body weight, central obesity, and body composition in adults and could be useful as an add on to weight loss products and medications.

Does gut microbiota affect the success of weight loss? Evidence and speculation

Obesity is a chronic state of excessive fat accumulation in the body, characterized by significant relapse and complicated by a range of health consequences. In the treatment of obesity, a holistic approach including diet, physical activity, pharmacotherapy, bariatric surgery, and psychological support is recommended. The implications of gut microbiota (GM) as a pathogenic factor in excess body weight have been discussed, and microbial-targeted therapies-including probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics-are considered adjuvant in obesity management. Many studies have focused on assessing the effectiveness of probiotics, prebiotics, or synbiotics in weight control, although with inconclusive results, mainly because of the significant heterogeneity of the studies (with different strains, doses, forms, interventional durations, and outcomes). It is also unclear whether using probiotics or synbiotics accompanied by weight loss dietary interventions or as a part of bariatric surgery will be more effective in obesity management, not only in the short-term but also for long-term weight loss maintenance. The aim of this study was to collect and compare the available scientific data on the effectiveness of probiotic or synbiotic supplementation (as a single therapy versus as part of dietary interventions, pharmacotherapy, or bariatric therapy) on weight control in obesity.

Health Benefits of Consuming Foods with Bacterial Probiotics, Postbiotics, and Their Metabolites: A Review

Over the years, probiotics have been extensively studied within the medical, pharmaceutical, and food fields, as it has been revealed that these microorganisms can provide health benefits from their consumption. Bacterial probiotics comprise species derived from lactic acid bacteria (LAB) (genus Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, and Streptococcus), the genus Bifidobacterium, and strains of Bacillus and Escherichia coli, among others. The consumption of probiotic products is increasing due to the current situation derived from the pandemic caused by COVID-19. Foods with bacterial probiotics and postbiotics are premised on being healthier than those not incorporated with them. This review aims to present a bibliographic compilation related to the incorporation of bacterial probiotics in food and to demonstrate through in vitro and in vivo studies or clinical trials the health benefits obtained with their metabolites and the consumption of foods with bacterial probiotics/postbiotics. The health benefits that have been reported include effects on the digestive tract, metabolism, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and psychobiotic properties, among others. Therefore, developing food products with bacterial probiotics and postbiotics is a great opportunity for research in food science, medicine, and nutrition, as well as in the food industry.

Diet and Nutrients Intakes during Infancy and Childhood in Relation to Early Puberty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The onset of puberty has become earlier over the decades, and nutrients and diet are related to the timing of puberty onset. Hence, we aimed to investigate the association between diet or nutrients in infancy, childhood and early puberty. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library were searched systematically up to 15 April 2022. The pooled relative risks (RRs) or regression coefficients (beta) were estimated using the random-effect model or fixed-effect model according to the heterogeneity between studies. Twenty-two articles on diet or nutrients in childhood and six about breastfeeding in infancy were included. The prolonged breastfeeding duration in infancy could reduce the risk of early menarche (beta 0.31, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.60, p = 0.045). The high intake of yogurt was associated with a 35% reduction in the risk of earlier menarche (RR 0.65, 95% CI: 0.47, 0.89, p = 0.008). Girls with severe food insecurity experienced later menarche (RR 0.81, 95% CI: 0.67, 0.98, p = 0.027). Conversely, due to the high intake of protein, the risk of early menarche increased by 8% (RR 1.08, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.16, p = 0.016). High intake of yogurt, longer duration of breastfeeding, and food insecurity decreased the possibility of earlier menarche, while high intake of protein increased that risk. As a modifiable factor, diet and nutrients in infancy and childhood provide new insights into the future prevention of early puberty.

Enhancing yogurt products’ ingredients: preservation strategies, processing conditions, analytical detection methods, and therapeutic delivery—an overview

As a dairy product, yogurt delivers nourishing milk components through the beneficial microbial fermentation process, improved by bioavailability and bioaccessibility–an exclusive combined food asset. In recent decades, there has been considerable attention to yogurt product development particularly in areas like influence by antioxidant-rich fruits, different factors affecting its probiotic viability, and the functionality of inulin and probiotics. Essentially, many published reviews frequently focus on the functionalities associated with yogurt products, however, those articulating yogurt ingredients specific to associated preservation strategies, processing conditions, and analytical detection techniques are very few, to the best of our knowledge. The knowledge and understanding of preservation strategies that enhance the ingredients in yogurt products, and their function as modern drug delivery systems are essential, given the opportunities it can provide for future research. Therefore, this overview discussed how yogurt product ingredients have been enhanced, from preservation strategies, processing conditions, analytical detection methods, and therapeutic delivery standpoints. The survey methodology involved major stages, from the brainstorming of research questions, search strategy, effective utilization of databases, inclusion and exclusion criteria, etc. The innovative successes of yogurts would be enhanced via the physicochemical, nutritional and therapeutic aspects of the ingredients/products. Besides processing conditions to influence the yogurt constituents, overall acceptability, quality, and shelf-life, the analytical assays would help detect the hidden product constituents, toxins, and other storage-related changes. The therapeutic role of yogurt-a modern drug delivery system, would be demonstrated via the supplementation (of yogurt) either alone or with bioactive ingredients. The future of yogurt requires the collective action of stakeholders to formulate unique variants with different natural blends, where synthetic ingredients become completely replaced by the plant’s derivatives, which enhance the acidification rate and extend shelf life.

Fermented food: Should patients with cardiometabolic diseases go back to an early neolithic diet?

Fermentation has been used since the Early Neolithic period to preserve foods. It has inherent organoleptic and nutritive properties that bestow health benefits, including reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, supporting the growth of salutogenic microbiota, enhancing intestinal mucosal protection and promoting beneficial immunometabolic health effects. The fermentation of food with specific microbiota increases the production salutogenic bioactive compounds that can activate Nrf2 mediated cytoprotective responses and mitigate the effects of the 'diseasome of aging' and its associated inflammageing, which presents as a prominent feature of obesity, type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease. This review discusses the importance of fermented food in improving health span, with special reference to cardiometabolic diseases.

Microbiome-Targeted Therapies as an Adjunct to Traditional Weight Loss Interventions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated the effect of microbiome-targeted therapies (pre-, pro-, and synbiotics) on weight loss and other anthropometric outcomes when delivered as an adjunct to traditional weight loss interventions in overweight and obese adults.

METHODS

A systematic review of three databases (Medline [PubMed], Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) was performed to identify randomized controlled trials published between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2020, that evaluated anthropometric outcomes following microbiome-targeted supplements in combination with dietary or dietary and exercise interventions. The pooled mean difference (MD) between treatment and control groups was calculated using a random effects model.

RESULTS

Twenty-one trials with 1233 adult participants (76.4% female) with overweight or obesity were included. Separate meta-analyses were conducted for probiotics (n=11 trials) and synbiotics (n=10 trials) on each anthropometric outcome; prebiotics were excluded as only a single study was found. Patient characteristics and methodologies varied widely between studies. All studies incorporated some degree of caloric restriction, while only six studies included recommendations for adjunct exercise. Compared with dietary or dietary and exercise interventions only, probiotics resulted in reductions in body weight (MD: -0.73 kg; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.02 to -0.44, p < 0.001), fat mass (MD: -0.61 kg; 95% CI: -0.77 to -0.45; p<0.001) and waist circumference (MD: -0.53 cm; 95% CI: -0.99 to -0.07, p=0.024) while synbiotics resulted in reductions in fat mass (MD: -1.53 kg; 95% CI: -2.95 to -0.12, p=0.034) and waist circumference (MD: -1.31 cm; 95% CI: -2.05 to -0.57, p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

This analysis indicates that microbiome-targeted supplements may enhance weight loss and other obesity outcomes in adults when delivered as an adjunct to dietary or dietary and exercise interventions. Personalized therapy to include microbiome-targeted supplements may help to optimize weight loss in overweight and obese individuals.

Effects of Probiotics and Synbiotics on Weight Loss in Subjects with Overweight or Obesity: A Systematic Review

Intestinal microbiota has been shown to be a potential determining factor in the development of obesity. The objective of this systematic review is to collect and learn, based on the latest available evidence, the effect of the use of probiotics and synbiotics in randomized clinical trials on weight loss in people with overweight and obesity. A search for articles was carried out in PubMed, Web of science and Scopus until September 2021, using search strategies that included the terms “obesity”, “overweight”, “probiotic”, “synbiotic”, “Lactobacillus”, “Bifidobacterium” and “weight loss”. Of the 185 articles found, only 27 complied with the selection criteria and were analyzed in the review, of which 23 observed positive effects on weight loss. The intake of probiotics or synbiotics could lead to significant weight reductions, either maintaining habitual lifestyle habits or in combination with energy restriction and/or increased physical activity for an average of 12 weeks. Specific strains belonging to the genus Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium were the most used and those that showed the best results in reducing body weight. Both probiotics and synbiotics have the potential to help in weight loss in overweight and obese populations.

Effect of Yogurt Consumption on Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors: a Narrative Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) comprises risk factors such as obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, hypertension, and hyperglycemia. Here we described the outcome of various yogurt consumption, either conventional, low-fat, high-fat, Greek, or enriched with nutrients or probiotics: (1) on the parameters of MetS risk factors and (2) on the mechanisms of action of the MetS risk factors.

RECENT FINDING

The majority (25 studies) of clinical trials and meta-analyses of clinical trials reported a beneficial effect of yogurt consumption in the prevention of MetS risk. Yogurt components, such as calcium, vitamin D, proteins, and probiotics, were associated with the multiple beneficial effects on the prevention of MetS. In general, yogurt consumption may be promoted within healthy dietary patterns to prevent MetS. More studies are needed to determine what type of yogurt has the greatest benefits for specific MetS risk factor prevention.

Characterization of Lactic Acid Bacteria in Raw Buffalo Milk: a Screening for Novel Probiotic Candidates and Their Transcriptional Response to Acid Stress

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are important microorganisms for the food industry due to their functional activity, as starters and potential probiotic strains. With that in mind, we explored the LAB diversity in raw buffalo milk, screening for novel potential probiotic strains. A total of 11 strains were identified by combination of MALDI-TOF and partial 16S rDNA sequencing and selected as potential probiotic candidates. Bacteria innocuity assessment was performed by determining antimicrobial susceptibility and the presence of virulence factors. Antagonism activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus was assessed, as well as milk proteolytic activity and exopolysaccharides production. Seven strains were identified as innocuous and two of them, Lactobacillus rhamnosus LB1.5 and Lactobacillus paracasei LB6.4 were selected for further probiotic potential analyses. Both strains demonstrated adhesion ability to Caco-2 cells, coaggregated with S. aureus and E. coli and maintained cell viability after gastrointestinal simulation in vitro, suggesting their probiotic potential. Furthermore, the transcriptional response of Lact. rhamnosus LB1.5 and Lact. paracasei LB6.4 to in vitro acid stress was assessed by RT-qPCR targeting seven genes related to adhesion, aggregation, stress tolerance, DNA repair and central metabolism. The association between the transcriptional responses and the maintenance of cell viability after gastrointestinal simulation highlights the genetic ability as probiotic of the two selected strains. Finally, we have concluded that Lact. rhamnosus LB1.5 and Lact. paracasei LB6.4 are important probiotic candidates to further in vivo studies.