Weight gain is often linked to an imbalance in the intestinal microbiome, the collection of bacteria that reside in our digestive tract.
Probiotics, live microorganisms, can help restore this balance, improving digestion and metabolism.
But how exactly does it work, and which probiotics are most effective for weight loss? Here is what the science says:
Lactobacillus gasseri: A study published in the “British Journal of Nutrition” showed that L. gasseri supplementation can lead to a significant reduction in abdominal fat and body weight (1). This probiotic works by inhibiting the absorption of dietary fats, thereby increasing their excretion.
Lactobacillus rhamnosus: A study of overweight and obese women found that those who took a L. rhamnosus supplement lost more weight than those who took a placebo (2). It seems to help by increasing production of the protein GLP-1, a hormone that promotes satiety.
Lactobacillus plantarum: Known for its anti-inflammatory properties, this strain can help control weight and reduce body fat. A study in mice found that it could reduce weight gain and body fat levels (3).
Bifidobacterium lactis: Has been shown to help improve blood sugar control, a key factor for weight loss (4).
Bifidobacterium longum: This probiotic may help reduce inflammation, a major contributor to obesity. One animal study showed that B. longum could reduce weight gain (5).
It's important to remember that losing weight is a complex process that depends on many factors, including a balanced diet and regular physical activity. Probiotics can support these efforts, but should not replace a healthy diet and physical activity, and every organism is unique.
"Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat that poses a risk to health. A rough measure of obesity in the population is the body mass index (BMI), that is- i.e. a person's weight (in kilograms) divided by the square of their height (in meters) A person with a BMI of 30 or more is generally considered obese A person with a BMI of 25 or more is considered overweight.Overweight and obesity are major risk factors for a number of chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.Once considered a problem reserved for high-income countries, overweight and obesity are now on the rise in low- and middle-income countries, especially in urban areas."
It is therefore undeniable that hypercholesterolemia, obesity and other metabolic disorders have a component of public interest and proven metabolic health. Referring again to the World Health Organization (WHO), "a growing global epidemic of overweight and obesity - the so-called global obesity - is gripping many parts of the world" .
1. Overweight and obesity are defined as “abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat that is likely to impair health”.
2. More than 1.9 billion adults were overweight in 2016, and 650 million obese.
3. Worldwide, 41 million preschool children were overweight in 2016.
4. Overweight and obesity are linked to more deaths worldwide than underweight.
5. For an individual, obesity is usually the result of an imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended.
6. A supportive environment and communities are key to influencing people's choices and preventing obesity.
7. Children's eating and physical activity habits are influenced by their surroundings.
8. A healthy diet can help prevent obesity.
9. Regular physical activity helps maintain a healthy body.
10. Halting the global obesity epidemic requires a multisectoral, multidisciplinary and culturally relevant approach to the population.
References :
[Kadooka Y, et al. Regulation of abdominal adiposity by probiotics (Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055) in adults with obese tendencies in a randomized controlled trial. Br J Nutr. 2010]
[Sanchez M, et al. Effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus CGMCC1.3724 supplementation on weight loss and maintenance in obese men and women. Br J Nutr. 2014]
[Kim B, et al. Lactobacillus plantarum strain Ln4 attenuates diet-induced obesity, insulin resistance, and changes in hepatic mRNA levels associated with glucose and lipid metabolism. Nutrients. 2018]
[Stenman LK, et al. Potential probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis 420 prevents weight gain and glucose intolerance in diet-induced obese mice. Benef Microbes. 2014]
[Cani PD, et al. Changes in gut microbiota control metabolic endotoxemia-induced inflammation in high-fat diet–induced obesity and diabetes in mice. Diabetes. 2008]
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