Can the Bacteria in my GUT be making me FAT?
Well, it sure may contribute to it, says a new study. In a double-blind, placebo controlled study in overweight volunteers (N = 225) aged 18-65, the effects of B420 and the combination of B420 with a prebiotic fiber on body-fat mass and other weight related parameters were investigated.
The authors speculated that the underlying mechanism for reduction of body fat mass could have been related to circulating zonulin (a potential marker of gut barrier function) and C-reactive protein (CRP), a maker for systemic inflammation. Subjects in the study were not required to make changes in dietary or exercise habits.
Other outcomes included anthropometric measurements, food intake, and blood and fecal biomarkers. Although results indicated that B420 in combination with the prebiotic offered the most significant benefits when compared to placebo (4.5% reduction in body fat mass), B420 alone (1010 CFU/day) resulted in reduced body fat mass of 4.0% with changes in fat mass being most pronounced in the abdominal region and in waist circumference.
Adding the RIGHT, “Lean” Probiotics to your diet, might make ALL the difference
Add ProbioClear LEAN DF to your diet protocolDisturbance of the GUT lining appears to be linked to metabolic disorders. To address the potential effects of consuming specific probiotic bacteria to protect GUT epithelial cells from the effects of pathogenic bacteria, Caco-2 cells were treated with cell-free supernatants (CFSs) of four probiotics— Bifidobacterium lactis‡ 420 (B420), Bifidobacterium lactis HN019, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, and Lactobacillus salivarius Ls-33— and by a cell-free supernatant of a pathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7. Tight junction integrity as well as expression of cyclooxygenases were measured with results suggesting that the B420 CFS counteracted damage done by the EHEC CFS.[8] One cannot be certain that B420 CFS would prevent junction damage by live bacteria EHEC, but the results suggest that probiotic bacteria produce soluble metabolites that appear to protect epithelial cells and positively influence cytokine balance.
In other animal research, the potential benefit of B420 in reducing high-fat, diet-induced body weight gain and diabetes was studied with results indicating a reduction of fat mass and glucose intolerance in both obese and diabetic mice. Reduced intestinal mucosal adherence and decreased levels of plasma lipopolysaccharide suggested a mechanism related to reduced translocation of gut microbes.*[9]
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HOWARU® Shape B420 (Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis B420)
The in vitro and experimental animal studies discussed above utilized B420 with positive results in improving epithelial integrity and potential for role in weight management. These results led to the need for a human trial to validate these effects. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in overweight volunteers (N = 225) aged 18-65, the effects of B420 and the combination of B420 with a prebiotic fiber on body-fat mass and other weight-related parameters were investigated. The authors speculated that the underlying mechanism for reduction of body fat mass could have been related to circulating zonulin (a potential marker of gut barrier function) and C-reactive protein (CRP), a speculation that had been supported by previous findings with experimental animals. Subjects were not required to make changes in dietary or exercise habits. Body composition was monitored with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and the primary outcome was a relative change in body fat mass when treatment groups were compared to placebo. Other outcomes included anthropometric measurements, food intake, and blood and fecal biomarkers. Although results indicated that B420 in combination with the prebiotic offered the most significant benefits when compared to placebo (4.5% reduction in body fat mass), B420 alone (1010 CFU/day) resulted in reduced body fat mass of 4.0% with changes in fat mass being most pronounced in the abdominal region and in waist circumference. Significant reduced caloric intake was also shown in both groups compared to placebo, and there were no differences between groups in the incidence of adverse events.*[7]
Building on the data reported for B420 thus far, investigators looked into whether changes in the gut microbiota were associated with clinical benefits and obesity-related issues. Fecal and plasma samples obtained from a subset (n = 134) of the participants in the above mentioned clinical trial were assessed at baseline, two, four, and six months as well as one-month post-intervention. Consumption of B420 resulted in alterations of the specific gut microbiota Lactobacillus and Akkermansia muciniphila. Akkermansia muciniphila, often in lower amounts in obese individuals with metabolic dysfunction, is associated with improved metabolic health. This strain supports gut barrier function and improves obesity-related markers and thus supports the probiotic benefits of B420.[10] More clinical trials are warranted to confirm these effects in larger participant populations and to further elucidate the underlying mechanisms.*
References
1. Singh VP, Sharma J, Babu S, et al. Role of probiotics in health and disease: a review. J Pak Med Assoc. 2013 Feb;63(2):253-7. [PMID: 23894906]
2. Report of a Joint FAO/WHO Working Group on Drafting Guidelines for the Evaluation of Probiotics in Food. FAO; London, ON, Canada. 30 April–1 May 2002. https://www.who.int/foodsafety/fs_management/en/probiotic_guidelines.pdf. Accessed December 11, 2018.
3. Wilkins T, Sequoia J. Probiotics for gastrointestinal conditions: a summary of the evidence. Am Fam Physician. 2017 Aug 1;96(3):170-178. [PMID: 28762696]
4. Markowiak P, Śliżewska K. Effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on human health. Nutrients. 2017 Sep 15;9(9). pii: E1021. [PMID: 28914794]
5. Sanders M, Merenstein C, Merrifield C, et al. Probiotics for human use. Nutrition Bulletin. 2018 Sept;43(3):212–225. doi: 10.1111/nbu.12334. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/nbu.12334. Accessed December 11, 2018.
6. Kadooka Y, Sato M, Imaizumi K, et al. Regulation of abdominal adiposity by probiotics (Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055) in adults with obese tendencies in a randomized controlled trial. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2010 Jun;64(6):636-43. [PMID: 20216555]
7. Stenman LK, Lehtinen MJ, Meland N, et al. Probiotic with or without fiber controls body fat mass, associated with serum zonulin, in overweight and obese adults-randomized controlled trial. EBioMedicine. 2016 Nov;13:190-200. [PMID: 27810310]
8. Putaala H, Salusjärvi T, Nordström M, et al. Effect of four probiotic strains and Escherichia coli O157:H7 on tight junction integrity and cyclo-oxygenase expression. Res Microbiol. 2008 Nov-Dec;159(9-10):692-8. [PMID: 18783733]
9. Stenman LK, Waget A, Garret C, et al. Potential probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis 420 prevents weight gain and glucose intolerance in diet-induced obese mice. Benef Microbes. 2014 Dec;5(4):437-45. [PMID: 25062610]
10. Hibberd AA, Yde CC, Ziegler ML, et al. Probiotic or synbiotic alters the gut microbiota and metabolism in a randomised controlled trial of weight management in overweight adults. Benef Microbes. 2018 Dec 10:1-16. [PMID: 30525950]
NOTE: All of the above statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Dr. Conners graduated with his doctorate from Northwestern Health Sciences University in 1986. He holds AMA Fellowships in Regenerative & Functional Medicine and Integrative Cancer Therapy.
He is the author of numerous books including, Stop Fighting Cancer and Start Treating the Cause, Cancer Can’t Kill You if You’re Already Dead, Help, My Body is Killing Me, Chronic Lyme, 3 Phases of Lyme, 23 Steps to Freedom, and many more you can download for FREE on our books page.