Modulation of the gut microbiota by probiotics and symbiotics is associated with changes in serum metabolite profile related to a decrease in inflammation and overall benefits to metabolic health: a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial in women with obesity.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the effects of probiotics or symbiotics, including changes in alanine levels, on body weight and serum metabolite profiles in women with obesity.
Results Summary
The symbiotic group showed an increase in alanine levels, along with other metabolites, suggesting improved metabolic health. These changes were unique to the symbiotic intervention compared to probiotics or diet alone.
Population
32 adult women with a BMI of 30-34.9 kg/m²
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
8 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
low-energy diet | null | metabolite profile | women with obesity | null | promoted changes | #1 |
low-energy diet | decrease | inflammation | women with obesity | null | decreased inflammation | #2 |
low-energy diet | decrease | body weight | women with obesity | null | positive effects | #3 |
symbiotic group (Bifidobacterium lactis UBBLa-70 and fructooligosaccharide) | null | metabolites | women with obesity | null | presented unique changes | #4 |
symbiotic group (Bifidobacterium lactis UBBLa-70 and fructooligosaccharide) | increase | pyruvate | women with obesity | null | increase | #5 |
symbiotic group (Bifidobacterium lactis UBBLa-70 and fructooligosaccharide) | increase | alanine | women with obesity | null | increase | #6 |
symbiotic group (Bifidobacterium lactis UBBLa-70 and fructooligosaccharide) | decrease | citrate | women with obesity | null | decrease | #7 |
symbiotic group (Bifidobacterium lactis UBBLa-70 and fructooligosaccharide) | decrease | BCAA | women with obesity | null | decrease | #8 |
symbiotic group (Bifidobacterium lactis UBBLa-70 and fructooligosaccharide) | decrease | fat mass | women with obesity | null | negative correlations | #9 |
probiotic group (Bifidobacterium lactis UBBLa-70) | decrease | 1H NMR lipid signals | women with obesity | null | decrease | #10 |
probiotic group (Bifidobacterium lactis UBBLa-70) | decrease | (CH2)n lipids | women with obesity | null | negative correlation | #11 |
probiotics and symbiotics | null | metabolites related to improved metabolic health | women with obesity | null | promoted changes | #12 |
Modulation of the gut microbiota may help in treating obesity by improving host metabolic health. We aimed to evaluate the effects of probiotics or symbiotics on body weight and serum metabolite profile in women with obesity. A double-blind, parallel, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted with 32 adult women with body mass index ranging from 30 to 34.9 kg m-2. Volunteers followed a low-energy diet and were subjected to 8 weeks intervention: probiotic group (PG - Bifidobacterium lactis UBBLa-70, n = 10), symbiotic group (SG - Bifidobacterium lactis UBBLa-70 and fructooligosaccharide, n = 11), or control group (CG - placebo, n = 11). Analyses of anthropometric variables, gut microbiota and serum metabolites by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) were performed at baseline and after the intervention. Multivariate statistics showed that all groups presented a decrease in glycerol and increase in arginine, glutamine and 2-oxoisovalerate. Therefore, a low-energy diet per se promoted changes in the metabolite profile related to decreased inflammation and positive effects on body weight. SG presented unique changes in metabolites (increase in pyruvate and alanine and decrease in citrate and BCAA). Negative correlations between arginine and glutamine with fat mass were observed in the SG. PG presented a decrease in 1H NMR lipid signals and negative correlation between Verrucomicrobia and Firmicutes with (CH2)n lipids. Both probiotics and symbiotics promoted changes in metabolites related to improved metabolic health. Specific metabolite changes following symbiotic intervention might suggest some advantage in providing Bifidobacterium lactis in combination with fructooligosaccharide in a low-energy diet, rather than probiotics or diet alone. Clinical trial: NCT02505854.