Probiotic supplements have produced intriguing benefits in people with diabetes, metabolic syndrome, liver disease, and obesity. Which biochemical markers have been improved? Learn more here.<\/p>\n
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Metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and obesity are among the most common and most debilitating diseases in modern humans. Probiotics are currently under investigation for their potential to prevent and alleviate the markers and root causes of these conditions, and early results have been promising.<\/p>\n
If any of these conditions apply to you, talk to your doctor before supplementing with probiotics. Together, you can determine whether probiotics could be beneficial in your case and which strains are most likely to help.<\/p>\n
The following purported benefits are only supported by limited, low-quality clinical studies. There is insufficient evidence to support the use of probiotics for any of the below-listed uses. Remember to speak with a doctor before taking probiotic supplements, and never use it in place of something your doctor recommends or prescribes.<\/p>\n
According to a few studies, consuming probiotics may reduce body weight and BMI<\/b>. A greater effect is achieved in overweight subjects, when multiple species of probiotics are consumed in combination or when they are taken for more than 8 weeks (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n L. rhamnosus<\/i> induced<\/b> weight loss<\/b><\/a> in women<\/b>, reducing fat mass and circulating leptin<\/a> concentrations (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n L. gasseri<\/i> significantly decreased body weight and visceral and subcutaneous fat <\/b>in adults with a tendency toward obesity (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n Despite there being no change in behavior or diet, the administration of L. gasseri<\/i> modestly reduced weight and waist and hip circumference in obese and overweight adults (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n L. gasseri<\/i> significantly decreased BMI, abdominal visceral fat, waist and hip circumferences, and body fat mass<\/b> in healthy Japanese adults. However, constant consumption of this probiotic may be required to maintain this effect (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n Both L. rhamnosus<\/i> and L. gasseri<\/i> also significantly lowered weight in mice (R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>) while L. gasseri<\/i> was also shown to reduce body weight in rats (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n Intestinal microbiota can affect host adiposity and regulate fat storage (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n Bifidobacteria content was higher in children of normal weight than those who were showing signs of becoming overweight (R<\/a>). Similarly, the presence of B. animalis<\/i> was found to be negatively associated with BMI<\/b> in humans (R<\/a>, R<\/a>).<\/p>\n The intake of synbiotics (probiotics + prebiotics) in obese children resulted in a significant reduction in BMI, waist circumference, and some cardiometabolic risk factors<\/b>, such as TC, LDL-C, and TAG (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n L. acidophilus<\/i>, B. animalis <\/i>ssp. lactis<\/i> and L. casei<\/i> reduced BMI<\/b>, fat percentage, and leptin<\/a> levels in overweight individuals (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n Daily ingestion of milk containing B. animalis<\/i> ssp. lactis<\/i> significantly reduced the BMI, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and inflammatory markers<\/b> in humans (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n A low-calorie diet supplemented with L. plantarum<\/i> reduced BMI in Russian adults with obesity<\/a> and hypertension (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n L. gasseri<\/i> prevented abdominal fat accumulation<\/b> (R<\/a>) and decreased body weight in adults with obese tendencies (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n B. breve<\/i> lowered fat mass<\/b> and improved GGT and hs-CRP in adults with obese tendencies (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n L. rhamnosus<\/i> improved markers of liver health in obese children with liver dysfunction noncompliant with lifestyle interventions (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n L. paracasei<\/i> decreases caloric intake<\/b> in both human and animal subjects (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n Oral administration of B. longum<\/i>, B. bifidum<\/i>, B. infantis<\/i>, and B. animalis<\/i> decreased glucose levels, ameliorated insulin resistance and reduced the expressions of inflammatory adipocytokines in obese mice (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n B. breve<\/i> reduced body weight gain<\/b> and accumulation of visceral fat in a dose-dependent manner, and improved serum levels of total cholesterol, fasting glucose, and<\/b> insulin<\/b><\/a> in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity<\/a> (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n C. butyricum<\/i> reduced fat accumulation<\/b> in liver and blood, lowered insulin<\/b> levels and improved glucose tolerance and<\/b> insulin sensitivity<\/b><\/a> in obese mice. Furthermore, C. butyricum<\/i> administration ameliorated GI and fat tissue inflammation (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n Water extract of L. paracasei<\/i> reduced body weight<\/b> in obese rats. It decreased the formation of lipid plaques in the aorta, reduced fat cell size and inhibited fat absorption, thereby reducing fat production (lipogenesis) (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n NOTE: Although some studies show beneficial effects of L. reuteri<\/i> in obesity-related symptoms, in one study, this species was more abundant in obese people than in people of healthy weight (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n Several studies suggest that probiotics may have a significant effect on lowering fasting blood glucose and insulin<\/a> in diabetics (R<\/a>, R<\/a>).<\/p>\n L. plantarum<\/i> reduced glucose levels<\/b> in postmenopausal women (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n L. casei <\/i>improved<\/b> insulin sensitivity<\/b><\/a> in subjects with metabolic syndrome (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n Furthermore, long\u2010term ingestion of L. casei <\/i>reduced insulin resistance and glucose intolerance in rats fed a high\u2010fat diet (R<\/a>), rats with hyperinsulinemia (R<\/a>), and obese mice (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n L. plantarum<\/i> significantly reduced blood glucose levels in response to insulin in mice on a high-fat diet (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n An<\/i> L. paracasei<\/i><\/a> probiotic was shown to improve many aspects of insulin resistance<\/b>, such as fasting response, hormonal homeostasis, and glycemic control in rats (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n gasseri <\/i>increased energy expenditure, reduced blood glucose, improved glucose tolerance<\/b>, attenuated inflammation (R<\/a>), and reduced insulin levels in rats (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n Many researchers believe that the gut microbiota play an important role in the pathogenesis and metabolic disturbances of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n Gut microbiota of adults with T2DM is quite different from the microbiota of nondiabetic adults. The content of Bifidobacteria<\/i> is decreased, whereas Enterococci<\/i> and Escherichia coli<\/i> are increased significantly (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n Probiotics may improve carbohydrate metabolism, total cholesterol, fasting blood glucose,<\/b> insulin sensitivity<\/b><\/a>, and antioxidant status and reduce metabolic stress<\/b> in subjects with T2DM (R<\/a>, R<\/a>).<\/p>\n Certain probiotics (L. lactis, Bifidobacteria<\/i>) secrete an insulin analog (R<\/a>), and they can modestly improve fasting insulin<\/a> in people with T2DM (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n In T2DM patients, L. acidophilus<\/i> and B. animalis<\/i> increased good cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and decrease the LDL-C\/HDL-C ratio (R<\/a>). They further significantly decreased fasting blood glucose and exerted antioxidant effects (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n A synbiotic containing L. acidophilus<\/i>, L. casei<\/i>, B. bifidum,<\/i> and inulin decreased fasting plasma glucose<\/b>, blood insulin concentrations and increased insulin sensitivity in overweight diabetic patients with coronary heart disease. In addition, HDL-cholesterol levels were increased (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n Consumption of a synbiotic containing B. coagulans <\/i>reduced insulin<\/b> levels, improved blood lipid profile<\/b> and increased good cholesterol<\/b> (HDL-C) in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients (R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>).<\/p>\n Similarly, consumption of a synbiotic with B. coagulans<\/i> improved NO, MDA (R<\/a>), hs-CRP, uric acid, and plasma total GSH levels in diabetic patients (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n L. acidophilus<\/i> preserved insulin sensitivity<\/b> in men with T2DM (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n Soy milk containing L. plantarum<\/i> has antioxidative properties and decreases DNA damage in patients with T2DM (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n Diabetic patients who develop foot ulcers are at more risk of dying prematurely than those without the complication. B. subtilis<\/i> shows antimicrobial activity against four diabetic foot ulcer bacterial pathogens<\/b> (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n2) Obesity<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
3) Blood Glucose & Insulin Sensitivity<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
4) Diabetes<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
In Humans<\/b>:<\/h4>\n