Probiotics are live micro-organisms that have been shown to improve varying aspects of health when consumed in the proper quantities. It has been hypothesized that they increase rate of weight loss. In this randomized controlled trial, 89 overweight and obese women consumed a standard low fat yogurt, or a probiotic yogurt, for 12 weeks while following the same comprehensive weight loss program.
At the end of
follow-up, women in both groups lost similar amounts of weight. However, the
women consuming the probiotic yogurt had a 13.9 mg/dl drop in total cholesterol
and a 13.5 mg/dl drop in LDL cholesterol when compared to the standard low fat
yogurt group. They also had significant improvements in blood glucose and
insulin levels. American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition 2016; 103:323-29.
Take Home Message
This is a very
nicely designed trial with a simple message. Probiotics can definitely improve
certain health parameters but do not appear to increase the rate of weight loss.
We are just beginning to learn about the health effects of the gut microbiota,
but it appears to be an extremely important and complex element of good health.
Unfortunately, it does not look like a quick fix for weight loss.
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