Role of probiotics in modulating glucose homeostasis: evidence from animal and human studies

The Consumption of a Synbiotic Does Not Affect the Immune, Inflammatory, and Sympathovagal Parameters in Athletes and Sedentary Individuals: A Triple-Blinded, Randomized, Place-bo-Controlled Pilot Study

This investigation aimed to identify the effect of a synbiotic in athletes and sedentary people, and their potential varying responses regarding the immune system, autonomic regulation and body composition. Twenty-seven participants were involved in the protocol: 14 sedentary and 13 semi-professional soccer players. Both groups were randomly divided into an experimental and control group. A synbiotic (Gasteel Plus^®, Heel España S.A.U.) comprising a blend of probiotic strains, including Bifidobacterium lactis CBP-001010, Lactobacillus rhamnosus CNCM I-4036, and Bifidobacterium longum ES1, was administered to the experimental group, and a placebo was given to the control group for 30 days. Heart rate variability, body composition, and immune/inflammatory cytokines were determined. Statistically significant differences were observed between sedentary individuals and athletes in heart rate variability but not between the experimental and control groups. A difference between the athletic and sedentary group is observed with the influence of training on the effects of the synbiotic on the levels of fat mass and body-fold sum. No significant differences were shown in cytokines after the protocol study. No changes occur with the synbiotic treatment between the athlete and sedentary groups, while no negative effect was produced. Further research will be necessary to see chronic effects in the analyzed biomarkers.

The potential of probiotics in the amelioration of hyperuricemia

Hyperuricemia is a common disease caused by metabolic disorders or the excessive intake of high-purine foods. Persistent hyperuricemia in extreme cases induces gout, and asymptomatic hyperuricemia is probably linked to other metabolic diseases, such as hypertension. The typical damage caused by asymptomatic hyperuricemia includes inflammation, oxidative stress and gut dysbiosis. Probiotics have broad potential applications as food additives, not as drug therapies, in the amelioration of hyperuricemia. In this review, we describe novel methods for potential hyperuricemia amelioration with probiotics. The pathways through which probiotics may ameliorate hyperuricemia are discussed, including the decrease in uric acid production through purine assimilation and XOD (xanthine oxidase) inhibition as well as enhanced excretion of uric acid production by promoting ABCG2 (ATP binding cassette subfamily G member 2) activity, respectively. Three possible probiotic-related therapeutic pathways for alleviating the syndrome of hyperuricemia are also summarized. The first mechanism is to alleviate the oxidation and inflammation induced by hyperuricemia through the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome, the second is to restore damaged intestinal epithelium barriers and prevent gut microbiota dysbiosis, and the third is to enhance the innate immune system by increasing the secretion of immunoglobulin A (sIgA) to resist the stimulus by hyperuricemia. We propose that future research should focus on superior strain resource isolation and insight into the cause-effect mechanisms of probiotics for hyperuricemia amelioration. The safety and effects of the application of probiotics in clinical use also need verification.

Exercise training and probiotic supplementation effects on skeletal muscle apoptosis prevention in type-Ι diabetic rats

AIMS

Hyperglycemia occurring in the diabetic condition can cause apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway with higher pro-apoptotic protein expression. Probiotics are viable microorganisms that have anti-diabetic and antioxidant effects. Also, exercise may affect the signaling pathways of skeletal muscle apoptosis. This study examined the aerobic exercise training and probiotic supplementation effects on some apoptotic indices of the soleus muscle in diabetic rats-induced by streptozotocin.

MAIN METHODS

We examined 32 male Wistar rats (weight: 250-270 g; age: eight weeks old) and divided them into four groups: control, control + probiotics, aerobic training (AT), and AT + probiotics (ATS). The rats in the training groups aerobically exercised using a treadmill five days per week for five weeks. We evaluated the gene expression of Bax, Bcl2, and p53 using the RT-PCR. We also used a one-way ANOVA for statistical analysis and set the significance level at P ≤ 0.05.

KEY FINDINGS

The results showed that the fasting blood sugar was significantly higher in the control and control + probiotics groups (P = 0.008). Moreover, the AT + probiotics group showed lower expression of p53 (P = 0.005), Bax (P = 0.001) and the Bax/Bcl2 ratio (P = 0.001). Conversely, Bcl2 expression was higher after aerobic training and receiving probiotics (P = 0.002). However, the groups revealed no significant difference regarding muscle weight (P = 0.053) and the muscle weight/final body weight ratio of the rats (P = 0.26).

SIGNIFICANCE

It appears that aerobic exercise training with the use of probiotics prevents apoptosis in the muscle with the down-regulation of blood glucose.

Antidiabetic and Hypolipidaemic Action of Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana)-Enriched Probiotic Fermented Milk: An in vivo Rat Study

Research background

Diabetes is a chronic multi-system disease having long term consequences to the health of people suffering from it. This study investigates the role of finger millet (Eleusine coracana)-enriched probiotic fermented milk in alleviating the diabetic complications in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Experimental approach

The probiotic strain used in the study was Lactobacillus helveticus MTCC 5463. Study comprised six groups each containing 6 Sprague Dawley rats: two controls (nondiabetic and diabetic), and four diabetic groups fed finger millet-enriched probiotic fermented milk, probiotic fermented milk, finger millet flour or metformin (standard drug). Samples were administered orally for four weeks, and parameters associated with diabetic disorders were studied.

Results and conclusions

Oral administration of finger millet-enriched milk significantly (p<0.001) decreased (64.26%) the fasting blood glucose level of diabetic rats compared to metformin (56.43%) and diabetic groups receiving the probiotic fermented milk (18.88%) and finger millet flour (47.14%) after four weeks of treatment. The finger millet-enriched milk significantly ameliorated the diabetic symptoms polyphagia and polydipsia and improved body mass. In diabetic control group, body mass was reduced up to 15.60% at the end of experiment, while in the group receiving the probiotic fermented milk, body mass significantly (p<0.0001) increased by about 5-30%. Significant (p<0.0001) reduction in total cholesterol, triglyceride levels in the groups treated with finger millet flour, finger millet-enriched probiotic fermented milk and probiotic fermented milk was observed compared to diabetic control rats. The probiotic fermented milk enriched with finger millet caused significant (p<0.05) decrease in low-density lipoprotein and very-low-density lipoprotein levels (p<0.0001) and insignificant increase in high-density lipoprotein level. A reversal of altered activities of hepatic marker enzymes aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase was observed in the group receiving the probiotic milk enriched with finger millet. Histological observations of pancreatic tissues and liver showed that the enriched milk prevents more severe changes in the acinar cells and ameliorated the inflammation and alteration in the liver structure to some extent. Therefore, the finger millet-enriched probiotic fermented milk can be a potential functional food in the management of diabetes.

Novelty and scientific contribution

This is the only paper reporting about the antidiabetic potential of finger millet-enriched milk fermented using probiotic Lactobacillus helveticus MTCC 5463 and Streptococcus thermophilus MTCC 5460. It also shows the synergistic antidiabetic effect of milk and finger millet used in combination, thus offering a novel functional food.

Oral Probiotic Bifidobacterium Longum Supplementation Improves Metabolic Parameters and Alters the Expression of the Renin-Angiotensin System in Obese Mice Liver

BACKGROUND

Obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have been increasing at an alarming rate worldwide. Bifidobacterium longum (BL), a common member of the human gut microbiota, has important health benefits through several mechanisms.

OBJECTIVES

We evaluated the BL supplementation effects on body metabolism and renin-angiotensin components hepatic expression in mice fed a high-fat diet.

METHODS

Thirty-two male mice were divided into four groups: standard diet + placebo (ST), standard diet + Bifidobacterium longum (ST + BL), high-fat diet + placebo (HFD) and high-fat diet + Bifidobacterium longum (HFD + BL). Following the obesity induction period, the ST + BL and HFD + BL groups were supplemented with Bifidobacterium longum for 4 weeks. Then, body, biochemical, histological and molecular parameters were evaluated.

RESULTS

HFD + BL mice had a significant decrease in adipose tissue mass and blood glucose levels, as well as a significant reduction in blood glucose during an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test. The treatment also resulted in reduced levels of total cholesterol and hepatic fat accumulation. Moreover, we observed an increase in angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and Mas receptor (MASR) expression levels in BL-treated obese mice.

CONCLUSIONS

These data demonstrate that BL may have the potential to prevent obesity and NAFLD by modulating the mRNA expression of renin-angiotensin system components.

Fermented dairy foods rich in probiotics and cardiometabolic risk factors: a narrative review from prospective cohort studies

Probiotic foods, including fermented dairy (FD) products such as yogurt and cheese, naturally contain live microorganisms, but the relationship between the consumption of probiotic foods and health is unclear. The aim of the present narrative review is to integrate the available information on the relationship between the most studied FD products, which are yogurt and cheese, and cardiometabolic risk factors obtained from meta-analysis, systematic reviews of prospective cohort studies (PCSs) and PCSs published up to 2 November 2019. Additionally, the effects identified by randomized controlled trials of less-studied FD products, such as kefir and kimchi, on cardiometabolic risk factors are provided. PCSs have shown that the consumption of cheese, despite its high saturated fat content, is not associated with expected hypercholesterolemia and an increased cardiovascular risk. PCSs have revealed that the total consumption of FD appears to be associated with a lower risk of developing stroke and cardiovascular disease. The consumption of yogurt seems to be associated with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. There is a lack of sufficient evidence of a protective relationship between FD or cheese consumption and metabolic syndrome. Moreover, the association of FD, cheese and yogurt with hypertension needs further evidence. In conclusion, the intake of fermented foods containing probiotics, particularly yogurt and cheese (of an undetermined type), opens up new opportunities for the management of cardiometabolic risk factors.

Effects of probiotics on the lipid profile: systematic review

Alterations in the intestinal microbiota can modulate mechanisms involving risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, including dyslipidemias The objective was to review the effects of probiotic supplementation on the prevention and treatment of changes to the lipid profile. The searches were run on the PubMed database, using the descriptors “probiotics and lipid profile” and “probiotics and dyslipidemia,” with publication dates restricted to 2013 to 2018. Supplementation with probiotics significantly reduced total cholesterol, LDL-c, and triglycerides and increased HDL-c. Some benefits were observed on anthropometric variables, glycemic control, oxidative stress, inflammation, and immune system. The present study suggests that probiotic supplementation should be indicated as adjunctive treatment for dyslipidemias. Further studies should be developed to clarify long-term effects, as well as the influence of probiotics in combination with drug therapy.

The effect of probiotic supplementation on glycemic control and lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized placebo controlled trial

AIMS

The role of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of diabetes is increasing; this study investigates the effect of multi-strain probiotics on fasting plasma glucose (FPG), plasma insulin and lipid profile among patients.

METHODS

This randomized double blind controlled trial was performed among 60 patients; individuals were randomly assigned into 2 groups of 30 participants in order to take either probiotic supplements or placebo for 6 weeks. The probiotic supplement consisted of 7 viable strains Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Streptococcus. Nutrient intakes were estimated using a 3-day and 24 hour-dietary recall at the beginning and end of study. Fasting blood samples were taken before and after intervention to measure the levels of FPG, plasma insulin and lipid profiles.

RESULTS

Within group comparisons showed significant decrease and increase in the levels of FPG (P = 0.001) and HDL-C (P = 0.002) in probiotic group, respectively. No significant alterations were observed for within and between group comparisons in the levels of insulin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, insulin resistance and anthropometric measurements, including weight, waist circumference and body mass index (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed a significant decrease in FPG level by multi-strain probiotic supplements in within group comparison; though, further studies are needed to confirm results. (IRCT Code: IRCT2013100714925N1).

The effects of prebiotic, probiotic, and synbiotic supplementation on blood parameters of renal function: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials

OBJECTIVES

Recent studies have demonstrated promising results regarding possible improvements in renal function after prebiotic, probiotic, and synbiotic supplementation. The aim of this review was to demonstrate whether such supplementation will improve renal profile indexes including glomerular filtration rate (GFR), creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid (UA), and urea.

METHOD

The meta-analysis included all studies that examined the effect of prebiotic, probiotic, and synbiotic supplements on one or more renal function parameters and had a control group. We searched July 1967 through to March 2016 MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases.

RESULTS

Of 437 studies, 13 were eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis. GFR levels tended to be reduced; whereas creatinine levels increased in the intervention group compared with the placebo group, both in a non-significant manner. The pooled effect on BUN demonstrated a significant decline compared with the placebo group (MD, -1.72 mmol/L; 95% confidence interval [CI], -2.93 to -0.51; P = 0.005). Urea significantly decreased after intervention (-0.46 mmol/L; 95% CI, -0.60 to -0.32; P <0.0001). The UA levels significantly increased in the intervention group compared with the placebo group (12.28 µmol/L; 95% CI, 0.85-23.71; P = 0.035).

CONCLUSION

This study showed a significant increase in UA and a decrease in urea and BUN. The use of prebiotic, probiotic, and synbiotic supplements among those with compromised renal function or those at risk for renal failure should be limited until large-scale, well-designed randomized controlled trials prove the safety and efficacy of these supplements in improving renal function.

Single-species versus dual-species probiotic supplementation as an emerging therapeutic strategy for obesity

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Recent studies have reported beneficial effects of specific probiotics on obesity. However, the difference in the anti-obesity effects of probiotics as single species and dual species is still uncertain. Therefore, we aimed to compare the efficacy of single and dual species of bacteria on markers of obesity in high-fat diet-induced obese rats.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to one of five groups of varying diets as follows: standard diet, high fat diet (HFD), HFD supplemented with Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota, HFD supplemented with Bifidobacterium longum and HFD supplemented with a mixture of these two bacterial species. After 15 weeks of supplementation, the animals were examined for changes in body weight, body fat, total count of bacteria in fecal, blood serum lipid profile, leptin, adiponectin and inflammatory biomarkers. Histological analysis of the liver and adipose tissue was performed and the hepatic mRNA expression levels of genes related to lipid metabolism were measured. It was found that probiotic supplementation of either B. longum or a mixture of B. longum and LcS bacteria significantly reduced weight and triglycerides in the HFD groups. Supplementation of B. longum bacteria showed better results in terms of modulating leptin level, fat mass, adipocyte size and lipoprotein lipase expression, as well as increasing adiponectin and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors-γ expression compared to dual species of bacteria. No significant differences were observed in the total count of fecal bacteria, glucose and inflammatory biomarker levels between supplemented groups.

CONCLUSIONS

B. longum supplementation in obesity was more beneficial in metabolic profile changes than the mixture species.

Microbial Impact on Host Metabolism: Opportunities for Novel Treatments of Nutritional Disorders?

Malnutrition is the cause of major public health concerns worldwide. On the one hand, obesity and associated pathologies (also known as the metabolic syndrome) affect more than 10% of the world population. Such pathologies might arise from an elevated inflammatory tone. We have discovered that the inflammatory properties of high-fat diets were linked to the translocation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We proposed a mechanism associating the gut microbiota with the onset of insulin resistance and low-grade inflammation, a phenomenon that we called “metabolic endotoxemia.” We and others have shown that bacteria as well as host-derived immune-related elements control microbial communities and eventually contribute to the phenotype observed during diet-induced obesity, diabetes, and metabolic inflammation. On the other hand, undernutrition is one of the leading causes of death in children. A diet poor in energy and/or nutrients causes incomplete development of the gut microbiota and may profoundly affect energy absorption, initiating stunted growth, edema, and diarrhea. In this review, we discuss how changes in microbiota composition are associated with obesity and undernutrition. We also highlight that opposite consequences exist in terms of energy absorption from the diet (obesity versus undernutrition), but interestingly the two situations share similar defects in term of diversity, functionality, and inflammatory potential.

The additional effects of a probiotic mix on abdominal adiposity and antioxidant Status: A double-blind, randomized trial

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether a probiotic mix has additional effects when compared with an isolated dietary intervention on the body composition, lipid profile, endotoxemia, inflammation, and antioxidant profile.

METHODS

Women who had excess weight or obesity were recruited to a randomized, double-blind trial and received a probiotic mix (Lactobacillus acidophilus and casei; Lactococcus lactis; Bifidobacterium bifidum and lactis; 2 × 10¹⁰ colony-forming units/day) (n = 21) or placebo (n = 22) for 8 weeks. Both groups received a dietary prescription. Body composition was assessed by anthropometry and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The lipid profile, lipid accumulation product, plasma fatty acids, lipopolysaccharide, interleukin-6, interleukin-10, tumor necrosis factor-α, adiponectin, and the antioxidant enzymes activities were analyzed.

RESULTS

In comparison with the dietary intervention group, the dietary intervention + probiotic mix group showed a greater reduction in the waist circumference (-3.40% vs. -5.48%, P = 0.03), waist-height ratio (-3.27% vs. -5.00%, P = 0.02), conicity index (-2.43% vs. -4.09% P = 0.03), and plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids (5.65% vs. -18.63%, P = 0.04) and an increase in the activity of glutathione peroxidase (-16.67% vs. 15.62%, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Supplementation of a probiotic mix reduced abdominal adiposity and increased antioxidant enzyme activity in a more effective way than an isolated dietary intervention.

Probiotics as beneficial agents in the management of diabetes mellitus: a systematic review

Probiotics have been suggested to play an important role in the management of diabetes. We conducted a systematic review on the role of probiotics in modulating parameters related to diabetes in animal and human experiments. We searched Pubmed, Scopus and Cochrane central until June 2014, concerning the effects of probiotics on hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia and their anti-diabetic efficacies by modulating the activities of proinflammatory and antioxidant factors. Our initial search retrieved 1120 reports. After screening titles and abstracts, 72 full-text articles were reviewed for eligibility. Ultimately, 33 articles met our inclusion criteria consisting of five human and twenty eight animal reports. Lactobacillus strains were, in particular, used in all studies with or without other strains. We found that probiotics have beneficial effects on glycemic controls, as all human studies showed significant reductions in at least one of the primary outcome endpoints which were the levels of fasting plasma glucose, postprandial blood glucose, glycated haemoglobin, insulin, insulin resistance and onset of diabetes; similarly, all the animal reports, except for two, documented significant changes in these parameters. Regarding secondary outcome measures, that is, lipid profiles, pro-inflammatory and anti-oxidant factors, only one human and one animal study failed to show any significant changes in any of these parameters. This systematic review generally demonstrated beneficial effects of the probiotic administration, especially Lactobacillus sub-strains, on the management of diabetes-related blood parameters, although, more evidence, especially from human trials, is needed to confirm these effects and also to conduct a meta-analysis. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The anti-obesity effects of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota versus Orlistat on high fat diet-induced obese rats

Background

Obesity and overweight are major public health problems. Various factors, such as daily nutritional habits, physical inactivity, and genetic, are related to the prevalence of obesity. Recently, it was revealed that the gut microflora may also play an important role in weight management. Thus, this study aimed to determine the anti-obesity effects of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (LcS) compared with those of orlistat in an animal model fed a high-fat diet (HFD).

Design

Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to four groups fed various diets as follows: a standard diet group, HFD group, HFD supplemented with LcS (10₈10₉ colony-forming units (HFD-LcS) group, and HFD group treated with Orlistat (10 mg/kg body weight)). After 15 weeks, the weights of organs, body weight, body fat mass and serological biomarkers were measured. In addition, histological analysis of the liver and adipose tissue was performed.

Results

Body weight, body mass index, fat mass, leptin and glucose levels were lower, and high-density lipoprotein and adiponectin levels were higher in the HFD-LcS and HFD-orlistat groups than in the HFD group. In addition a significant difference in body fat mass was observed between HFD-LcS group with HFD-orlistat group (19.19±5.76 g vs. 30.19±7.98 g). Although the interleukin-6 level was significantly decreased in the HFD-LcS and HFD-orlistat groups compared with the HFD group, no significant change was observed in other inflammatory biomarkers.

Conclusion

The results of the present study show that LcS supplementation improves body weight management and the levels of some related biomarkers. In addition, LcS supplementation showed a better result in fat mass and alanine aminotransferase reduction than Orlistat. Further studies are needed to elucidate the anti-obesity effects of LcS, with a longer period of supplementation.

Clinical and metabolic response to probiotic administration in patients with major depressive disorder: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

We are aware of no study examining the effects of probiotic supplementation on symptoms of depression, metabolic profiles, serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and biomarkers of oxidative stress in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). The present study was designed to determine the effects of probiotic intake on symptoms of depression and metabolic status in patients with MDD.

METHODS

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial included 40 patients with a diagnosis of MDD based on DSM-IV criteria whose age ranged between 20 and 55 y. Patients were randomly allocated into two groups to receive either probiotic supplements (n = 20) or placebo (n = 20) for 8 wk. Probiotic capsule consisted of three viable and freeze-dried strains: Lactobacillus acidophilus (2 × 10(9) CFU/g), Lactobacillus casei (2 × 10(9) CFU/g), and Bifidobacterium bifidum (2 × 10(9) CFU/g). Fasting blood samples were taken at the beginning and end of the trial to quantify the relevant variables. All participants provided three dietary records (two weekdays and one weekend) and three physical activity records during the intervention.

RESULTS

Dietary intake of study participants was not significantly different between the two groups. After 8 wk of intervention, patients who received probiotic supplements had significantly decreased Beck Depression Inventory total scores (-5.7 ± 6.4 vs. -1.5 ± 4.8, P = 0.001) compared with the placebo. In addition, significant decreases in serum insulin levels (-2.3 ± 4.1 vs. 2.6 ± 9.3 μIU/mL, P = 0.03), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (-0.6 ± 1.2 vs. 0.6 ± 2.1, P = 0.03), and serum hs-CRP concentrations (-1138.7 ± 2274.9 vs. 188.4 ± 1455.5 ng/mL, P = 0.03) were observed after the probiotic supplementation compared with the placebo. Additionally, taking probiotics resulted in a significant rise in plasma total glutathione levels (1.8 ± 83.1 vs. -106.8 ± 190.7 μmol/L, P = 0.02) compared with the placebo. We did not find any significant change in fasting plasma glucose, homeostatic model assessment of beta cell function, quantitative insulin sensitivity check index, lipid profiles, and total antioxidant capacity levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Probiotic administration in patients with MDD for 8 wk had beneficial effects on Beck Depression Inventory, insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, hs-CRP concentrations, and glutathione concentrations, but did not influence fasting plasma glucose, homeostatic model assessment of beta cell function, quantitative insulin sensitivity check index, lipid profiles, and total antioxidant capacity levels.

The role of probiotics on each component of the metabolic syndrome and other cardiovascular risks

INTRODUCTION

Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms that when administered in adequate amounts confer health benefits to the host. The consumption of probiotics has gained increasing recognition from the scientific community due to the promising effects on metabolic health through gut microbiota modulation.

AREAS COVERED

This article presents a review of scientific studies investigating probiotic species and their effects on different risk factors of the metabolic syndrome (MetS). This article also presents a summary of the major mechanisms involved with gut microbiota and the components of the MetS and raises the key issues to be considered by scientists in search of probiotics species for treatment of patients suffering from this metabolic disorder.

EXPERT OPINION

Probiotics may confer numerous health benefits to the host through positive gut microbiota modulation. The strain selection is the most important factor for determining health effects. Further studies may consider gut microbiota as a novel target for prevention and management of MetS components and other cardiovascular risks.

Novel opportunities for next-generation probiotics targeting metabolic syndrome

Various studies have described the beneficial effects of specific bacteria on the characteristics of metabolic syndrome. Intestinal microbiota might therefore represent a modifiable trait for translational intervention to improve the metabolic profiles of obese and type 2 diabetic patients. However, identifying potential probiotic strains that can effectively colonize the gastrointestinal tract and significantly affect host metabolism has been challenging. This review aims to summarize the notable advances and contributions in the field that may prove useful for identifying next-generation probiotics that target metabolic syndrome and its related disorders.