- Probiotics are well known for their digestive health benefits. We saw how they can help boost our immune system and their ability to fight colds. There is new evidence that probiotics may be able to help lose weight.
- There are hormones in our bodies called ghrelin and leptin. These hormones send signals to the brain that you are hungry or full. New studies suggest that when we lack the friendly bug H. pylori, these hormones don’t work the way that they are supposed to. Because of the heavy use of antibiotics, many people lack the friendly bacteria H. pylori, and overeat and become obese.
- In 2006, researchers from Washington University in St. Louis found that microbial populations in the gut differ between obese and lean people. When obese people lose weight their microflora reverts back to that observed in lean people.
- However, the weight loss benefits of probiotics depend on the species, because not all probiotics are the same. While bacteria like Lactobacillus acidophilus is associated with weight gain, bacteria like Lactobacillus plantarum are associated with weight loss.
- The probiotic weight loss study stated “The results showed that the probiotic meal regimens lowered body fat by three to four percent over six weeks.”
- The results of the new clinical trial, performed at the University of Winnipeg, Manitoba indicate that two probiotics help to reduce body fat and suppress a dangerous pathogenic bug. The probiotic meal regimens lowered body fat by three to four percent over six weeks.
- Co-author Dr. Peter Jones commented on the seemingly small change: “Four percent over six weeks doesn’t sound like a deal maker but just do the math. Take it out for a year or a decade and you’re talking about a pretty sizable change”.
- For more.
- For probiotics and cold.
- REFERENCES:
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McNulty NP, Yatsunenko T, Hsiao A, Faith JJ, Muegge BD, Goodman AL, Henrissat B, Oozeer R, Cools-Portier S, Gobert G, Chervaux C, Knights D, Lozupone CA, Knight R, Duncan AE, Bain JR, Muehlbauer MJ, Newgard CB, Heath AC, Gordon JI. The impact of a consortium of fermented milk strains on the gut microbiome of gnotobiotic mice and monozygotic twins. Sci Transl Med. 2011 Oct 26;3(106):106ra106. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3002701.
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Million M, Angelakis E, Paul M, Armougom F, Leibovici L, Raoult D. Comparative meta-analysis of the effect of Lactobacillus species on weight gain in humans and animals. Microb Pathog. 2012 Aug;53(2):100-8. Epub 2012 May 24.
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Omar JM, Chan YM, Jones ML, Prakash S, Jones PJH. Lactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus amylovorus as probiotics alter body adiposity and gut microflora in healthy persons. Journal of Functional Foods. Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1016/j.jff.2012.09.001
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Sonnenburg JL, Chen CT, Gordon JI. Genomic and metabolic studies of the impact of probiotics on a model gut symbiont and host. PLoS Biol. 2006 Nov;4(12):e413.
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