According to a recent study published in Frontiers in Nutrition, a supplement containing Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis MN-Gup (MN-Gup), galactooligosaccharides (GOS), and xylooligosaccharides (XOS) had particularly favorable effects on participants with abnormal cholesterol profiles.
“In this study, it was found that MN-Gup-GOS-XOS intervention could significantly reduce body fat percentage and waist, thereby indicating the potential of MN-Gup-GOS-XOS in enhancing body composition,” wrote the researchers in China.
“Furthermore, the synbiotic group exhibited enrichment in several bacteria such as Escherichia-Shigella, Romboutsia. Solobacteriumm, and Actinomyces, which have been proven to be beneficial for weight loss in previous animal and human studies.”
The findings add to accumulating interest in microbiome-based products for weight management, including probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics.
New-generation products have gained momentum in the market based on scientific evidence about the links between dysbiosis and obesity.
Study details
The study randomized 80 participants with obesity to consume daily synbiotics (MN-Gup-GOS-XOS) provided by Mengniu Hi-Tech Dairy Product Beijing Co., Ltd. or a placebo for 12 weeks.
In the two weeks before the intervention, participants were prohibited from consuming foods or supplements containing probiotics and requested to follow their usual diet and exercise routine.
Researchers measured body composition, blood lipids, serum hormones, bile acids and gut microbiota before and after the intervention.
They found significant decreases in BMI, body fat percentage, waist and serum LDL-C levels in the synbiotic group but no significant changes in the placebo group.
Furthermore, the decrease in body fat percentage and waist size was significantly greater with the intervention (−1.26% and −2.28 cm in the synbiotic group compared to 0.36% and −0.40 cm in the placebo group).
Subgroup analysis revealed significant positive effects in individuals with abnormal LDL-C levels, but in those without dyslipidemia, the supplement had no significant effects except for reducing waist size.
Some markers for bile acid regulation were improved in the synbiotic group compared to placebo, and certain gut bacteria (Bifidobacterium and Romboutsia) were enhanced, particularly in individuals with abnormal LDL-C.
Additionally, beneficial gut hormones and proteins such as cholecystokinin and angiopoietin-like 4 that regulate fats, as well as markers for antioxidants, increased in the synbiotic group.
The researchers concluded that 12 weeks of supplementation significantly reduced body fat, waist and serum LDL-C among obese individuals. This was accompanied by alterations in gut microbiota and hormones, and the effects were more favorable in participants with dyslipidemia. They called for further research to validate the exact mechanisms.
Source: Frontiers in Nutrition
2024, Volume 11, doi: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1510318
“Effect of synbiotic supplementation on obesity and gut microbiota in obese adults: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.”
Authors: X. Niu et al.
