title: The effects of probiotic bacteria on glycaemic control in overweight men and women: a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evidence from animal and in vitro models suggest a role of probiotic bacteria in improving glycaemic control and delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes. However, the evidence from controlled trials in humans is limited. The objective was to determine if the probiotic bacteria L. acidophilus La5 and B. animalis subsp lactis Bb12, supplemented in a whole food (yoghurt) or isolated (capsules) form, can improve biomarkers of glycaemic control.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following a 3-week washout period, 156 overweight men and women over 55 years (mean age: 67 ± 8 years; mean body mass index (31 ± 4 kg/m(2)) were randomized to a 6-week double-blinded parallel study. The four intervention groups were: (A) probiotic yoghurt plus probiotic capsules; (B) probiotic yoghurt plus placebo capsules; (C) control milk plus probiotic capsules; and (D) control milk plus placebo capsules. Outcome measurements, including fasting glucose, insulin, glycated haemoglobin and Homoeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), were performed at baseline and week 6.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Relative to the milk-control group, probiotic yoghurt resulted in a significantly higher HOMA-IR (0.32 ± 0.15, P=0.038), but did not have a significant effect on the other three measures of glycaemic control (P>0.05). Relative to placebo capsules, probiotic capsules resulted in a significantly higher fasting glucose (0.15 ± 0.07 mmol/l, P=0.037), with no significant effect on the other three measures of glycaemic control (P>0.05). Further analyses did not identify other variables as contributing to these adverse findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data from this study does not support the hypothesis that L. acidophilus La5 and B. animalis subsp lactis Bb12, either in isolated form or as part of a whole food, benefit short-term glycaemic control. Indeed, there is weak data for an adverse effect of these strains on glucose homoeostasis.
authors.affiliation: 1] School of Medicine and Pharmacology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Unit, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia [2] Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Ivey
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Pharmacology, Royal Perth Hospital, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hodgson
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.affiliation: 1] School of Medicine and Pharmacology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Unit, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia [2] Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: 1] School of Medicine and Pharmacology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Unit, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia [2] Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Prince
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001407:Bacillus; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D007779:Lactobacillus acidophilus; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015014:Yogurt / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D006454:Hemoglobins; D007328:Insulin