Probiotics for the Prevention of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Overweight and Obese Women: Findings From the SPRING Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial Impact of dietary counselling and probiotic intervention on maternal anthropometric measurements during and after pregnancy: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Probiotics Improve Outcomes After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Trial One-Year Effectiveness of a 3-Week Balneotherapy Program for the Treatment of Overweight or Obesity Probiotic With or Without Fiber Controls Body Fat Mass, Associated With Serum Zonulin, in Overweight and Obese Adults—Randomized Controlled Trial☆☆☆ Probiotic supplementation and the effects on weight loss, glycaemia and lipid profiles in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial Probiotics in obese pregnancy do not reduce maternal fasting glucose: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial (Probiotics in Pregnancy Study). Effect of probiotics on the occurrence of nutrition absorption capacities in healthy children: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled pilot study. Omega-3 fatty acid-, micronutrient-, and probiotic-enriched nutrition helps body weight stabilization in head and neck cancer cachexia. Effect of antenatal dietary interventions in maternal obesity on pregnancy weight-gain and birthweight: Healthy Mums and Babies (HUMBA) randomized trial. Is there a value for probiotic supplements in gestational diabetes mellitus? A randomized clinical trial Internet-based randomised controlled trials for the evaluation of complementary and alternative medicines: probiotics in spondyloarthropathy Efficacy of Probiotics and Nutrients in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: A Preliminary Clinical Trial Effects of probiotic supplements on insulin resistance in gestational diabetes mellitus: A double‐blind randomized controlled trial Probiotic B420 and prebiotic polydextrose improve efficacy of antidiabetic drugs in mice Effects of Prebiotic and Synbiotic Supplementation on Inflammatory Markers and Anthropometric Indices After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: A Randomized, Triple-blind, Placebo-controlled Pilot Study Regulation of abdominal adiposity by probiotics (Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055) in adults with obese tendencies in a randomized controlled trial
OBJECTIVE Given the role of gut microbiota in regulating metabolism , probiotics administered during pregnancy might prevent gestational diabetes mellitus ( GDM ) . This question has not previously been studied in high-risk overweight and obese pregnant women . We aim ed to determine whether probiotics ( Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium animalis subspecies lactis ) administered from the second trimester in overweight and obese women prevent GDM as assessed by an oral glucose tolerance test ( OGTT ) at 28 weeks ’ gestation . Secondary outcomes included maternal and neonatal complications , maternal blood pressure and BMI , and infant body composition . RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This was a double-blind r and omized controlled trial of probiotic versus placebo in overweight and obese pregnant women in Brisbane , Australia . RESULTS The study was completed in 411 women .  GDM occurred in 12.3 % ( 25 of 204 ) in the placebo arm and 18.4 % ( 38 of 207 ) in the probiotics arm ( P = 0.10 ) . At OGTT , mean fasting glucose was higher in women r and omized to probiotics ( 79.3 mg/dL ) compared with placebo ( 77.5 mg/dL ) ( P = 0.049 ) . One- and two-hour glucose measures were similar . Preeclampsia occurred in 9.2 % of women r and omized to probiotics compared with 4.9 % in the placebo arm ( P = 0.09 ) . Excessive weight gain occurred in 32.5 % of women in the probiotics arm ( 55 of 169 ) compared with 46 % in the placebo arm ( 81 of 176 ) ( P = 0.01 ) . Rates of small for gestational age ( < 10th percentile ) were 2.4 % in the probiotics arm ( 5 of 205 ) and 6.5 % in the placebo arm ( 13 of 199 ) ( P = 0.042 ) . There were no differences in other secondary outcomes . CONCLUSIONS The probiotics used in this study did not prevent GDM in overweight and obese pregnant women BACKGROUND & AIMS To establish whether probiotic supplemented dietary counselling influences maternal anthropometric measurements during and after pregnancy . METHODS At the first trimester of pregnancy 256 women were r and omly assigned to receive nutrition counselling to modify dietary intake according to current recommendations or as controls ; dietary intervention groups were further r and omized to receive probiotics Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG ( ATCC 53103 ) and Bifidobacterium lactis ( diet/probiotics ) or placebo ( diet/placebo ) capsules in a double-blind manner , whilst the controls received placebo ( control/placebo ) . The intervention lasted until the end of exclusive breastfeeding for up to six months . RESULTS The risk of central adiposity defined as waist circumference 80 cm or more was lowered in women in the diet/probiotics group compared with the control/placebo group ( OR 0.30 , 95%CI 0.11 - 0.85 , p = 0.023 adjusted for baseline BMI ) , whilst the diet/placebo group did not differ from the controls ( OR 1.00 , 95 % CI 0.38 - 2.68 , p = 0.994 ) at 6 months postpartum . The number needed to treat ( NNT ) with diet/probiotics to prevent one woman from developing a waist circumference of 80 cm or more was 4 . Healthy eating pattern at 12 months postpartum ( p = 0.001 ) and BMI prior to pregnancy ( p < 0.001 ) were strong determinants of BMI at 12 months postpartum when adjusted for dietary intervention and exercise . CONCLUSION The impact of probiotics-supplemented dietary counselling on central adiposity , may offer a novel means for the prevention and management of obesity . This trial was registered at clinical trials.gov as NCT 00167700 , section 3 Introduction Roux-en-Y gastric bypass ( RNYGB ) surgery  offers an effective and enduring treatment for morbid obesity . Gastric bypass may alter gastrointestinal ( GI ) flora possibly result ing in bacterial overgrowth and dysmotility . Our hypothesis was that daily use of probiotics would improve GI outcomes after RNYGB . Methods Forty-four patients undergoing RNYGB  were r and omized to either a probiotic or control group ; 2.4 billion colonies of Lactobacillus were administered daily postoperatively to the probiotic group . The outcomes of H2 levels indicative of bacterial overgrowth , GI-related quality of life ( GIQoL ) , serologies , and weight loss were measured preoperatively and at 3 and 6 months postoperatively . Categorical variables were analyzed by χ2 test and continuous variables were analyzed by t test with a p < 0.05 for significance . Results At 6 months , a statistically significant reduction in bacterial overgrowth was achieved in the probiotic group with a preoperative to postoperative change of sum H2 part per million ( probiotics = −32.13 , controls = 0.80 ) . Surprisingly , the probiotic group attained significantly greater percent excess weight loss than that of control group at 6 weeks ( controls = 25.5 % , probiotic = 29.9 % ) and 3 months ( 38.55 % , 47.68 % ) . This trend also continued but was not significant at 6 months ( 60.78 % , 67.15 % ) . The probiotic group had significantly higher postoperative vitamin B12 levels than the control group . Both probiotic and control groups significantly improved their GIQoL. Conclusion In this novel study , probiotic administration improves bacterial overgrowth , vitamin B12 availability , and weight loss after RNYGB . These data may provide further evidence that altering the GI microbiota can influence weight loss Objective . To assess the one-year effectiveness on weight loss of a 3-week balneotherapy program ( BT ) . Method . A Zelen double consent r and omised controlled trial to compare one-year BMI loss between a 3-week  BT program versus usual care ( UC ) for overweight or obese patients ( BMI : 27–35 kg/m2 ) , associated or not with a dietary motivational interview ( DMI )  during the follow-up , using a 2 × 2 factorial design . Main analysis was a per protocol analysis comparing patients attending BT to patients managed by UC , matched on sex , overweight or obese status , DMI r and omisation and a propensity score to attend BT or to be managed by UC . Results . From the 257 patients who completed the follow-up , 70 patients of each group could be matched . Mean BMI loss was 1.91 kg/m2 [ 95%CI : 1.46 ; 2.35 ] for the BT patients and 0.20 kg/m2 [ −0.24 ; 0.64 ] for the UC patients ( P < 0.001 ) , corresponding to a significant BT benefit of 1.71 kg/m2 [ 1.08 ; 2.33 ] . There was no significant effect of DMI and no interaction with BT or UC . No adverse reaction was observed for patients attending BT . Conclusion . A 3-week BT program provided a significant one-year benefit over the usual GP dietary advice for overweight and obese patients Background The gut microbiota is interlinked with obesity , but direct evidence of effects of its modulation on body fat mass is still scarce . We investigated the possible effects of Bifidobacterium animalisssp . lactis 420 ( B420 ) and the dietary fiber Litesse ® Ultra polydextrose ( LU ) on body fat mass and other obesity-related parameters . Methods 225 healthy volunteers ( healthy , BMI 28–34.9 ) were r and omized into four groups ( 1:1:1:1 ) , using a computer-generated sequence , for 6 months of double-blind , parallel treatment : 1 ) Placebo , microcrystalline cellulose , 12 g/d ; 2 ) LU , 12 g/d ; 3 ) B420 , 1010 CFU/d in microcrystalline cellulose , 12 g/d ; 4 ) LU + B420 , 12 g + 1010 CFU/d . Body composition was monitored with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry , and the primary outcome was relative change in body fat mass , comparing treatment groups to Placebo . Other outcomes included anthropometric measurements , food intake and blood and fecal biomarkers . The study was registered in Clinical trials.gov ( NCT01978691 ) . Findings There were marked differences in the results of the Intention-To-Treat ( ITT ; n = 209 ) and Per Protocol ( PP ; n = 134 ) study population s. The PP analysis included only those participants who completed the intervention with > 80 % product compliance and no antibiotic use . In addition , three participants were excluded from DXA analyses for PP due to a long delay between the end of intervention and the last DXA measurement . There were no significant differences between groups in body fat mass in the ITT population . However , LU + B420 and B420 seemed to improve weight management in the PP population . For relative change in body fat mass , LU + B420 showed a − 4.5 % ( − 1.4 kg , P = 0.02 , N = 37 ) difference to the Placebo group , whereas LU ( + 0.3 % , P = 1.00 , N = 35 ) and B420 ( − 3.0 % , P = 0.28 , N = 24 ) alone had no effect ( overall ANOVA P = 0.095 , Placebo N = 35 ) . A post-hoc factorial analysis was significant for B420 ( − 4.0 % , P = 0.002 vs. Placebo ) . Changes in fat mass were most pronounced in the abdominal region , and were reflected by similar changes in waist circumference . B420 and LU + B420 also significantly reduced energy intake compared to Placebo . Changes in blood zonulin levels and hsCRP were associated with corresponding changes in trunk fat mass in the LU + B420 group and in the overall population . There were no differences between groups in the incidence of adverse events . Discussion This clinical trial demonstrates that a probiotic product with or without dietary fiber controls body fat mass . B420 and LU + B420 also reduced waist circumference and food intake , whereas LU alone had no effect on the measured outcomes Abstract The aim of the current study was to assess the effects of probiotic supplementation on weight loss , glycaemia and lipid profiles in women with polycystic ovary syndrome ( PCOS ) . In a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial , 60 women with PCOS were r and omized to receive probiotic capsule ( n = 30 ) or placebo ( n = 30 ) for 12 weeks . Consumption of probiotic supplements result ed in a significant reduction in weight ( −0.5 ± 0.4 vs. + 0.1 ± 1.0 kg , p = 0.004 ) and BMI ( −0.2 ± 0.2 vs. + 0.03 ± 0.4 kg/m2 , p = 0.004 ) compared with the placebo . In addition , compared with the placebo , probiotic administration was associated with a significant decrease in fasting plasma glucose ( −2.4 ± 8.4 vs. + 2.1 ± 7.0 mg/dL , p = 0.02 ) , serum insulin concentrations ( −2.0 ± 5.8 vs. + 1.6 ± 5.0 μIU/mL , p = 0.01 ) , homoeostasis model of assessment -insulin resistance ( −0.5 ± 1.4 vs. + 0.3 ± 1.1 , p = 0.01 ) , homoeostatic model assessment -beta cell function ( −7.5 ± 22.3 vs. + 6.3 ± 21.7 , p = 0.01 ) , serum triglycerides ( −13.3 ± 51.3 vs. + 13.6 ± 37.1 mg/dL , p= 0.02 ) and a significant increase in quantitative insulin sensitivity check index ( QUICKI ) ( + 0.006 ± 0.01 vs. −0.005 ± 0.02 , p = 0.01 ) . When we adjusted the analysis for baseline values of biochemical parameters , age and baseline BMI , except for QUICKI ( p = 0.08 ) , other findings did not alter . We found that probiotic supplementation among PCOS women for 12 weeks had favourable effects on weight loss , markers of insulin resistance , triglycerides and VLDL-cholesterol concentrations BACKGROUND Recent studies have reported beneficial effects of probiotics on maternal glycemia in healthy pregnant women . Obesity significantly increases risk of impaired glucose tolerance in pregnancy , but glycemic effects of probiotics in this specific obstetric group require additional investigation . OBJECTIVE The aim of the Probiotics in Pregnancy Study was to investigate the effect of a probiotic capsule on maternal fasting glucose in obese pregnant women . DESIGN In this placebo-controlled , double-blind , r and omized trial , 175 pregnant women with an early pregnancy body mass index ( BMI ; in kg/m² ) from 30.0 to 39.9 were recruited from antenatal clinics at the National Maternity Hospital , Dublin , Irel and . Exclusion criteria were BMI < 30.0 or > 39.9 , prepregnancy or gestational diabetes , age < 18 y , multiple pregnancy , and fetal anomaly . Women were r and omly assigned to receive either a daily probiotic or a placebo capsule from 24 to 28 wk of gestation in addition to routine antenatal care . The primary outcome was the change in fasting glucose between groups from preintervention to postintervention . Secondary outcomes were the incidence of gestational diabetes and neonatal anthropometric measures . RESULTS In 138 women who completed the study ( 63 women in the probiotic group ; 75 women in the placebo group ) , mean ( ±SD ) early pregnancy BMI was 33.6 ± 2.6 , which differed significantly between probiotic ( 32.9 ± 2.4 ) and placebo ( 34.1 ± 2.7 ) groups . With adjustment for BMI , the change in maternal fasting glucose did not differ significantly between treated and control groups [ -0.09 ± 0.27 compared with -0.07 ± 0.39 mmol/L ; P = 0.391 ; B = -0.05 ( 95 % CI : -0.17 , 0.07 ) ] . There were also no differences in the incidence of impaired glycemia ( 16 % in the probiotic group compared with 15 % in the placebo group ; P = 0.561 ) , birth weight ( 3.70 kg in the probiotic group compared with 3.68 kg in the placebo group ; P = 0.723 ) , or other metabolic variables or pregnancy outcomes . A secondary analysis of 110 women , excluding antibiotic users and poor compliers , also revealed no differences in maternal glucose or other outcomes between groups . CONCLUSION Probiotic treatment of 4 wk during pregnancy did not influence maternal fasting glucose , the metabolic profile , or pregnancy outcomes in obese women OBJECTIVE Recent advances in the translational research showed that dietary nutrients have critical importance to the microbioma balance in the gastrointestinal tract . Therefore , the alteration of the intestinal microbiota in order to achieve , restore , and maintain favorable balance in the ecosystem , and the activity of microorganisms present in the gastrointestinal tract is necessary for the improved health condition of the host . The objective of this translational study was to evaluate , in a pediatric population , the efficacy and safety of prophylactic probiotics for a better nutritional absorption capacity in the view to enhance their overall health and immunity . PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 40 pediatric patients between the ages of 14 and 18 years were enrolled in the study and divided under two categories ( treated/active group and placebo group ) . Three-time points clinical evaluations were performed : a baseline assessment ( Time 0 ) , a second evaluation at 5 weeks after the start of probiotic use ( Time 1 ) , and a final evaluation at the timeline after 10 weeks ( Time 2 ) . In the initial phase of the study , the recruited subjects underwent a panel of initial T0 clinical tests . For each of the patients , a blood sample was taken in order to evaluate the following biochemical measurements : Vitamin D , Vitamin A , Calcium , Zinc , and Iron . Moreover , an initial nutritional evaluation was carried out through which the nutritionist estimated the body composition of the subject ( weight and body mass index ) , the caloric needs and dietary behaviour of each recruited patient . RESULTS Eligible participants were r and omized into placebo ( n = 20 ) or treated/active ( n = 20 ) treatment conditions by r and om allocation using a computerized r and om number generator , ensuring all investigators remained blind to the treatment distribution . The data were compared within and between groups using statistical methods . The results confirmed that the probiotic supplementation was effective in increasing the overall blood biomarkers levels of vitamins , calcium , and mineral absorption from baseline to 10 weeks of treatment , compared with the placebo . CONCLUSIONS Probiotics may be suggested as supplements to improve biomarkers serum concentration if administered for a period of at least ≥ 5 weeks . However , further studies are required for optimal recommendations in patient treatment OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether an oral nutritional supplement enriched with omega-3 fatty acids , micronutrients , and probiotics affected body weight ( BW ) changes , serum albumin and prealbumin levels in patients with head and neck cancer ( HNC ) cachexia . STUDY DESIGN Sixty-eight HNC patients were r and omly assigned to receive either an Ethanwell/Ethanzyme ( EE ) regimen enriched with omega-3 fatty acids , micronutrients , and probiotics , or control ( Isocal ) for a 3-month period . Analysis of covariance was used to examine the association between BW change and variables . RESULTS Patients with body mass index ( BMI ) < 19 and those receiving the EE regimen consumed fewer daily calories but showed significantly increased BW and maintained higher serum albumin and prealbumin levels than other patients ( P<.05 ) . Their BW changes were significantly associated with changes in serum albumin and prealbumin levels . CONCLUSIONS EE regimen improved BW as well as serum albumin and prealbumin levels in HNC patients with BMI < 19 BACKGROUND Pregnancy interventions that improve maternal and infant outcomes are urgently needed in population s with high rates of obesity . We undertook the Healthy Mums and Babies ( HUMBA ) r and omized controlled trial to assess the effect of dietary interventions and or probiotics in a multiethnic population of pregnant women with obesity , living in an area of high deprivation . OBJECTIVES To determine whether a culturally tailored dietary intervention and or daily probiotic capsules in pregnant women with obesity reduces the co- primary outcomes of ( 1 ) excessive gestational weight gain ( mean > 0.27 kg/week ) and ( 2 ) birthweight . STUDY DESIGN We conducted a 2 × 2 factorial , r and omized controlled trial in women without diabetes at pregnancy booking , body mass index ≥30 kg/m2 , and a singleton pregnancy . At 12 + 0 to 17 + 6 weeks ' gestation , eligible women were r and omized to a dietary intervention ( 4 tailored educational sessions at ≤28 weeks ' gestation by a community health worker trained in key aspects of pregnancy nutrition plus text messaging until birth ) or to routine dietary advice ; and to daily capsules containing either ( Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium lactis BB12 , minimum 6.5 × 109 colony forming units ) , or placebo , until birth . Analysis was by intention to treat with adjustment for maternal baseline body mass index . Infant outcomes were additionally adjusted for ethnicity , sex , and gestational age at birth . RESULTS In total , 230 women were recruited between April 2015 and June 2017 ( dietary intervention N = 116 vs routine dietary advice N = 114 ; probiotics N = 115 vs placebo N = 115 ) . Baseline characteristics and demographic variables were similar across all groups . There was no significant difference between intervention groups , for the co- primary outcomes of ( 1 ) proportion of women with excessive gestational weight gain  ( dietary intervention vs routine advice : 79/107 [ 73.8 % ] vs 90/110 [ 81.8 % ] , adjusted relative risk [ relative risk , 0.92 ; 95 % confidence interval , 0.80 - 1.05 ] ; probiotics versus placebo : 89/108 [ 82.4 % ] and 80/109 [ 73.4 % ] , relative risk , 1.14 , 95 % confidence interval , 0.99 - 1.31 ) or ( 2 ) birthweight ( dietary intervention vs routine advice : 3575 vs 3612 g , adjusted mean difference , -24 g , 95 % confidence interval , -146 to 97 ; probiotics vs placebo : 3685 vs 3504 g , adjusted mean difference , 107 g , 95 % confidence interval , -14 to 228 ) . Total maternal weight gain , a secondary outcome , was lower with dietary intervention compared with routine dietary advice ( 9.7 vs 11.4 kg , adjusted mean difference , -1.76 , 95 % confidence interval , -3.55 to 0.03 ) . There were no significant differences between intervention groups in other secondary maternal or neonatal outcomes . CONCLUSION Although dietary education and or probiotics did not alter rates of excessive gestational weight gain or birthweight in this multiethnic , high-deprivation population of pregnant women with obesity , dietary education was associated with a modest reduction in total weight gain with potential future benefit for the health of mothers and their offspring if sustained Background Although several studies have found probiotics encouraging in prevention of gestational diabetes mellitus ( GDM ) , the evidence for the use of probiotics in diagnosed GDM is largely limited . The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a probiotic supplement capsule containing four bacterial strains on glucose metabolism indices and weight changes in women with newly diagnosed GDM . Methods Sixty-four pregnant women with GDM were enrolled into a double-blind placebo-controlled r and omized clinical trial . They were r and omly assigned to receive either a probiotic or placebo capsule along with dietary advice for eight consecutive weeks . The trend of weight gain along with glucose metabolism indices was assayed . Results During the first 6 weeks of the study , the weight gain trend was similar between the groups . However , in the last 2 weeks of the study , the weight gain in the probiotic group was significantly lower than in the placebo group ( p < 0.05 ) . Fasting blood sugar ( FBS ) decreased in both intervention ( from 103.7 to 88.4 mg/dl ) and control ( from 100.9 to 93.6 mg/dl ) groups significantly , and the decrease in the probiotic group was significantly higher than in the placebo group ( p < 0.05 ) . Insulin resistance index in the probiotic group had 6.74 % reduction over the study period ( p < 0.05 ) . In the placebo group , however , there was an increase in insulin resistance index ( 6.45 % ) , but the observed change in insulin resistance was not statistically significant . Insulin sensitivity index was increased in both groups . The post-intervention insulin sensitivity index in the probiotic group was not significantly different from placebo when adjusted for the baseline levels . Conclusions The probiotic supplement appeared to affect glucose metabolism and weight gain among pregnant women with GDM . This needs to be confirmed in other setting s before a therapeutic value could be approved Background The clinical effectiveness of complementary and alternative medicines ( CAMs ) is widely debated because of a lack of clinical trials . The internet may provide an effective and economical approach for undertaking r and omised controlled trials ( RCTs ) of low-risk interventions . We investigated whether the internet could be used to perform an internet-based RCT of a CAM fulfilling the revised CONSORT ( Consoli date d St and ards of Reporting Trials ) statement quality checklist for reporting of RCTs . A secondary aim was to examine the effect of probiotics compared to placebo in terms of well-being over 12 weeks . Methods People aged ≥18 years with confirmed spondyloarthropathy living in the United Kingdom with internet access were invited to participate in an internet-based RCT of probiotic compared to placebo for improving well-being and bowel symptoms . The intervention was a probiotic containing 4 strains of live bacteria or identical placebo taken by mouth daily for 3 months . The primary outcome measure was the performance of the trial according to the revised CONSORT statement . Results 147 people were r and omised into the trial . The internet-based trial of the CAM fulfilled the revised CONSORT statement such as efficient blinding , allocation concealment , intention to treat analysis and flow of participants through the trial . Recruitment of the required number of participants was completed in 19 months . Sixty-five percent ( 96/147 ) completed the entire 3 months of the trial . The trial was low cost and demonstrated that in an intention to treat analysis , probiotics did not improve well-being or bowel symptoms . Conclusion The internet-based RCT proved to be a successful and economical method for examining this CAM intervention . Recruitment , adherence and completion rate were all similar to those reported with conventional RCTs but at a fraction of the cost . Internet-based RCTs can fulfil all the criteria of the revised CONSORT statement and are an appropriate method for study ing low-risk interventions .Trial registration IS RCT The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of commonly used probiotics and nutrients available for functional gastrointestinal disorders ( FGID ) . Five different combinations of probiotics and nutrients , or placebo , were taken daily over 12 weeks . In this r and omized controlled clinical trial , men and women 21 to 72 years of age with FGID symptoms of indigestion , bloating , and abdominal discomfort were assigned to one of six groups , 12 patients per group .  Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index ( GIQLI ) and visual analogue scale ( VAS ) for GI symptoms , SF-36 , lactulose and mannitol test ( LMT ) , and urine indican levels were evaluated . GIQLI , VAS scores , and LMT did not change significantly ( P > 0.05 ) . There were clinical ly notable improvements in two of the combination formulations . While the nonsignificant improvements in GI symptoms could suggest that combination probiotics and nutrients may be beneficial in conditions such as FGID , no conclusive evidence was found in this pilot trial . Further investigations to explore the findings are discussed Abstract Aims / Introduction To evaluate the effect of probiotic supplements on insulin resistance in pregnant women with diet‐controlled gestational diabetes mellitus . Material s and Methods A r and omized , double‐blind , placebo‐controlled trial was carried out between June 2016 and February 2017 . Pregnant women with diet‐controlled gestational diabetes mellitus were enrolled in the study at 24–28 weeks‐of‐gestation and r and omized to receive either probiotic supplements containing Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus or a placebo daily for four consecutive weeks . Primary outcomes were mean differences in insulin resistance ( homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance ) , fasting insulin and fasting plasma glucose between the two groups . Secondary outcomes were changes in maternal weight after the intervention . Results Data from 28 patients in the probiotic group and 29 in the placebo group were analyzed . The changes in metabolic parameters after r and omization showed significant improvement in glucose metabolism in the probiotic group compared with the placebo group , including fasting plasma glucose ( 0.68 ± 5.88 vs 4.620 ± 7.78 mg/dL , mean difference −3.94 mg/dL , 95 % confidence interval −7.62 , −0.27 , P = 0.034 ) , fasting plasma insulin ( 1.11 ± 1.71 vs 3.77 ± 1.70 mIU/L , mean difference −2.67 mIU/L , 95 % confidence interval −3.57 , −1.76 , P = 0.001 ) and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance ( 0.25 ± 0.37 vs 0.89 ± 0.46 , mean difference −0.63 , 95 % confidence interval −0.86 , −0.41 , P = 0.001 ) . Weight gain during r and omization was similar between the two groups . Conclusions Four weeks of probiotic supplements  in women with diet‐controlled gestational diabetes in the late second and early third trimester lowered fasting glucose and increased insulin sensitivity  . Probiotic supplements may be considered as an adjunct treatment for glycemic control in these patients Background Gut microbiota is now known to control glucose metabolism . Previous studies have shown that probiotics and prebiotics may improve glucose metabolism , but their effects have not been studied in combination with drug therapy . The aim of this study was to investigate whether probiotics and prebiotics combined with drug therapy affect diabetic outcomes . Methods Two different study design s were used to test gut microbiota modulating treatments with metformin ( MET ) or sitagliptin ( SITA ) in male C57Bl/6J mice . In Design 1 , diabetes was induced with four-week feeding with a ketogenic , 72 kcal% fat diet with virtually no carbohydrates . Mice were then r and omly divided into four groups ( n = 10 in each group ) : ( 1 ) vehicle , ( 2 ) Bifidobacterium animalis ssp . lactis 420 ( B420 ) ( 109 CFU/day ) , ( 3 ) MET ( 2 mg/mL in drinking water ) , or ( 4 ) MET + B420 ( same doses as in the MET and B420 groups ) . After another 4 weeks , glucose metabolism was assessed with a glucose tolerance test . Fasting glucose , fasting insulin and HOMA-IR were also assessed . In Design 2 , mice were fed the same 72 kcal% fat diet to induce diabetes , but they were simultaneously treated within their respective groups ( n = 8 in each group ) : ( 1 ) non-diabetic healthy control , ( 2 ) vehicle , ( 3 ) SITA [ 3 mg/(kg*day ) ] ( 4 ) SITA with prebiotic polydextrose ( PDX ) ( 0.25 g/day ) , ( 5 ) SITA with B420 ( 109 CFU/day ) , and ( 6 ) SITA + PDX + B420 . Glucose metabolism was assessed at 4 weeks , and weight development was monitored for 6 weeks . Results In Design 1 , with low-dose metformin , mice treated with B420 had a significantly lower glycemic response ( area under the curve ) ( factorial experiment , P = 0.002 ) and plasma glucose concentration ( P = 0.02 ) compared to mice not treated with B420 . In Design 2 , SITA + PDX  reduced glycaemia in the oral glucose tolerance test significantly more than SITA only ( area under the curve reduced 28 % , P < 0.0001 ) . In addition , B420 , PDX or B420+PDX , together with SITA , further decreased fasting glucose concentrations compared to SITA only ( −19.5 , −40 and −49 % , respectively , P < 0.01 for each comparison ) . The effect of PDX may be due to its ability to increase portal vein GLP-1 concentrations together with SITA ( P = 0.0001 compared to vehicle ) whereas SITA alone had no statistically significant effect compared to vehicle ( P = 0.14 ) . Conclusions This study proposes that combining probiotics and /or prebiotics with antidiabetic drugs  improves glycemic control and insulin sensitivity in mice . Mechanisms could be related to incretin secretion Background : Studies have shown that prebiotics and synbiotics modulate the intestinal microbiota and may have beneficial effects on the immune response and anthropometric indices ; however , the impact of the use of these supplements after bariatric surgery is not yet known . Goals : This study investigated the effects of prebiotic and synbiotic supplementation on inflammatory markers and anthropometric indices in individuals undergoing open Roux-en-Y gastric bypass ( RYGB ) . Study : In this r and omized , controlled , and triple-blind trial conducted as a pilot study , individuals undergoing RYGB ( n=9 ) and healthy individuals ( n=9 ) were supplemented with 6 g/d of placebo ( maltodextrin ) , prebiotic ( fructo-oligosaccharide , FOS ) , or synbiotic ( FOS+Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria strains ) for 15 days . Results : Interleukin-1&bgr ; , interleukin-6 , tumor necrosis factor-&agr ; , C-reactive protein , albumin , and the C-reactive protein/albumin ratio showed no significant changes on comparison between groups after supplementation . The reduction in the body weight of  patients undergoing RYGB was 53.8 % higher in the prebiotic group compared with the placebo group ( −0.7 kg , P=0.001 ) , whereas the reduction in the BMI and the increase in the percentage of excess weight loss were higher in the placebo and the prebiotic groups compared with the synbiotic group ( P<0.05 ) . Conclusions : Supplementation of FOS increased weight loss , whereas both prebiotics and synbiotics were not able to promote significant changes in inflammatory markers , although in most analyses , there was a reduction in their absolute values . The use of FOS may represent a potential adjunct in the treatment of obesity Background / Objectives : 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 . Subjects/ Methods : We conducted a multicenter , double-blind , r and omized , placebo-controlled intervention trial . Subjects ( n=87 ) with higher body mass index ( BMI ) ( 24.2–30.7 kg/m2 ) and abdominal visceral fat area ( 81.2–178.5 cm2 ) were r and omly 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 ) cm2 ) and 3.3 % ( −7.4 ( −11.6 , −3.1 ) cm2 ) , 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/m2 ) ; 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 ) μg/ml ) and 13.6 % ( 0.23 ( 0.07 , 0.38 ) μg/ml ) , respectively . Conclusion : The probiotic LG2055 showed lowering effects on abdominal adiposity , body weight and other measures , suggesting its beneficial influence on metabolic disorders
A greater reduction in BMI was found with multiple species of probiotics .
Consuming probiotics  could reduce body weight and BMI , with a potentially greater effect when multiple species of probiotics were consumed , the duration of intervention was ≥8 weeks , or the objects were overweight
OBJECTIVE To assess the efficacy of probiotic therapies on body weight and BMI  using a meta- analysis of r and omized , controlled trials .