Regulation of abdominal adiposity by probiotics (Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055) in adults with obese tendencies in a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
In spite of the much evidence for the beneficial effects of probiotics, their anti-obesity effects have not been well examined. We evaluated the effects of the probiotic Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055 (LG2055) on abdominal adiposity, body weight and other body measures in adults with obese tendencies.


METHODS
We conducted a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled intervention trial. Subjects (n=87) with higher body mass index (BMI) (24.2-30.7 kg/m(2)) and abdominal visceral fat area (81.2-178.5 cm(2)) were randomly assigned to receive either fermented milk (FM) containing LG2055 (active FM; n=43) or FM without LG2055 (control FM; n=44), and were asked to consume 200 g/day of FM for 12 weeks. Abdominal fat area was determined by computed tomography.


RESULTS
In the active FM group, abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat areas significantly (P<0.01) decreased from baseline by an average of 4.6% (mean (confidence interval): -5.8 (-10.0, -1.7) cm(2)) and 3.3% (-7.4 (-11.6, -3.1) cm(2)), respectively. Body weight and other measures also decreased significantly (P<0.001) as follows: body weight, 1.4% (-1.1 (-1.5, -0.7) kg); BMI, 1.5% (-0.4 (-0.5, -0.2) kg/m(2)); waist, 1.8% (-1.7 (-2.1, -1.4) cm); hip, 1.5% (-1.5 (-1.8, -1.1) cm). In the control group, by contrast, none of these parameters decreased significantly. High-molecular weight adiponectin in serum increased significantly (P<0.01) in the active and control groups by 12.7% (0.17 (0.07, 0.26) microg/ml) and 13.6% (0.23 (0.07, 0.38) microg/ml), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The probiotic LG2055 showed lowering effects on abdominal adiposity, body weight and other measures, suggesting its beneficial influence on metabolic disorders.
Kadooka
Y
Y
Technology and Research Institute, Snow Brand Milk Products Co. Ltd., Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan. y-kadooka@snowbrand.co.jp
Sato
M
M
Imaizumi
K
K
Ogawa
A
A
Ikuyama
K
K
Akai
Y
Y
Okano
M
M
Kagoshima
M
M
Tsuchida
T
T
D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism*; D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006615:Hip; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism; D007778:Lactobacillus; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050507:Subcutaneous Fat, Abdominal / Q000378:metabolism; D055105:Waist Circumference
D052242:Adiponectin