Probiotic or synbiotic alters the gut microbiota and metabolism in a randomised controlled trial of weight management in overweight adults

Abstract

The gut microbiota contributes to host energy metabolism, and altered gut microbiota has been associated with obesity-related metabolic disorders. We previously reported that a probiotic alone or together with a prebiotic controls body fat mass in healthy overweight or obese individuals in a randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled clinical study (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01978691). We now aimed to investigate whether changes in the gut microbiota may be associated with the observed clinical benefits. Faecal and plasma samples were obtained from a protocol compliant subset (n=134) of participants from a larger clinical study where participants were randomised (1:1:1:1) into four groups: (1) placebo, 12 g/d microcrystalline cellulose; (2) Litesse® Ultra™ polydextrose (LU), 12 g/day; (3) Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis 420™ (B420), 1010 cfu/d in 12 g microcrystalline cellulose; (4) LU+B420, 1010 cfu/d of B420 in 12 g/d LU for 6 months of intervention. The faecal microbiota composition and metabolites were assessed as exploratory outcomes at baseline, 2, 4, 6 months, and +1 month post-intervention and correlated to obesity-related clinical outcomes. Lactobacillus and Akkermansia were more abundant with B420 at the end of the intervention. LU+B420 increased Akkermansia, Christensenellaceae and Methanobrevibacter, while Paraprevotella was reduced. Christensenellaceae was consistently increased in the LU and LU+B420 groups across the intervention time points, and correlated negatively to waist-hip ratio and energy intake at baseline, and waist-area body fat mass after 6 months treatment with LU+B420. Functional metagenome predictions indicated alterations in pathways related to cellular processes and metabolism. Plasma bile acids glycocholic acid, glycoursodeoxycholic acid, and taurohyodeoxycholic acid and tauroursodeoxycholic acid were reduced in LU+B420 compared to Placebo. Consumption of B420 and its combination with LU resulted in alterations of the gut microbiota and its metabolism, and may support improved gut barrier function and obesity-related markers.

Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis 420 for Metabolic Health: Review of the Research

“…in the human fecal microbiota, while the prevalence of Paraprevotella spp. was reduced [40]. Christensenellaceae positively correlated with the fecal branched chain fatty acids (BCFAs) [40], which in previous studies have been indicated to inhibit de novo lipogenesis, thus potentially affecting lipid and glucose metabolism in human adipocytes [41].…”

“…As a consequence of the above-mentioned ability of microbes to affect energy metabolism, the most important step in the mode of action of probiotics in metabolic health outcomes might well be inducing a beneficial shift in microbiota composition. The effect of B420 on microbiota composition was studied as part of a placebo-controlled human intervention trial [40]. The results indicated that B420 consumption modulated the gut microbiota-both alone, as well as in synbiotic product containing prebiotic fiber with probiotic-of an overweight study population towards the composition associated with a lean phenotype [40].…”

“…The effect of B420 on microbiota composition was studied as part of a placebo-controlled human intervention trial [40]. The results indicated that B420 consumption modulated the gut microbiota-both alone, as well as in synbiotic product containing prebiotic fiber with probiotic-of an overweight study population towards the composition associated with a lean phenotype [40]. B420 alone was shown to increase the relative levels of beneficial microbes, such as Lactobacillus spp.…”

Pure total flavonoids from citrus attenuate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice via the gut microbiota

“…Porphyromonadaceae was positively correlated with body weight [24]. At the family level,Streptococcaceae was enriched in the NAFLD group [25,26].…”

The Application of Metabolomics to Probiotic and Prebiotic Interventions in Human Clinical Studies

“…Hibbert et al reported a study involving both probiotic and prebiotic interventions in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 134 overweight adults [24]. This study included four treatment groups (1) placebo (microcrystalline cellulose) (2) treatment with the prebiotic Litesse Ultra ® polydextrose (LU), (3) Bifidobacterium animalis subsp.…”