Lactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus amylovorus as probiotics alter body adiposity and gut microflora in healthy persons

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Abstract

Modification of gut microflora has been reported as altering energy and lipid homeostasis, leading to changes in body composition. We evaluated whether consumption of Lactobacillus amylovorus (LA) and Lactobacillus fermentum (LF) as novel probiotics alters body adiposity through modification of gut microflora. Healthy, but overweight participants (n = 28) consumed yogurt containing 1.39 × 109 colony-forming unit (CFU) microencapsulated LA, 1.08 × 109 CFU microencapsulated LF, or a control yogurt using a randomized, double-blind crossover design. Body composition measurements showed that body fat mass was reduced in all treatments, with the greatest reduction from LA consumption. Bacterial distribution of gut microflora determined a significant reduction in the abundance of Clostridial cluster IV from LA consumption and significant increases in the abundance of Lactobacillus in both LF and LA treatments. The results suggest that modulation of gut microbial composition from probiotic consumption may contribute to altered energy metabolism and body composition.

Highlights

► Probiotics may have gut microflora and body composition modifying properties. ► Lactobacillus amylovorus and Lactobacillus fermentum consumed as novel probiotics. ► Lactobacillus amylovorus decreases gut microflora content of Clostridium leptum. ► Consumption of Lactobacillus amylovorus confers a total body fat loss of 4%. ► Consumption of Lactobacillus fermentum confers a total body fat loss of 3%.

Abbreviations

CFU
colony-forming unit
LA
Lactobacillus amylovorus
LF
Lactobacillus fermentum
FAE
ferulic acid esterase
FA
ferulic acid
APA
alginate-poly-l-lysine-alginate
DXA
dual energy X-ray absorptiometry

Keywords

Probiotics
Adiposity
Lactobacillus
Microflora
Energy expenditure

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