Study Says Probiotics May Help Reduce Childhood Obesity

By Mary Anne R. First Posted: Sep 08, 2020 05:27 AM EDT

Probiotics can have an important role in managing childhood obesity, according to a study.

Over 340 million children and adolescents were overweight or obese in 2016. It means that they are at greater risk for obesity and disease later in life.

Probiotics can improve body mass index, inflammatory markers, and glycolipid metabolism in obese children following a diet and exercise plan, according to the research presented at the 58th Annual European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology Meeting, held September 19 to 21, 2019, in Vienna, Austria.

The study had 54 obese children aged six to 14 years. All participants were treated with reduced calorie intake and increased physical activity for 12 weeks.

Some participants were randomly assigned to receive probiotic capsules containing Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, and Streptococcus thermophilus.

The researchers measured anthropometric features, inflammatory cytokines, blood lipids, and fasting blood glucose at baseline at the end of the study period. The results showed that participants in the probiotic group had significant improvements in BMI.

Another study was done wherein authors included 100 children and adolescents between ages six and 18 with obesity and insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance is a condition in which cells in the muscles, fat, and liver do not respond well to insulin and cannot easily absorb blood glucose. As a result, the pancreas produces more insulin to help glucose enter the cells.

The children who participated in the study were on a Mediterranean-style diet with a calorie limit tailored to their minds, said Dr. Flavia Prodam, an associate professor in clinical nutrition in the department of health sciences at the University of Piemonte Orientale in Italy.

Children then received either the probiotic or a placebo for eight weeks. The participants who took probiotics saw greater results in weight loss, insulin sensitivity, and reduced E. coli concentrations.

Dr. Christopher Moran, a pediatric gastroenterologist and director of the Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Fellowship at MassGeneral Hospital for Children in Boston, said the probiotics' effects were seen a few weeks after children stopped taking it is an unusual finding for studies on probiotics.

"Many studies show that when you stop taking the probiotic, it vanishes in the intestines and doesn't have long-lasting (effects)," Moran, who was not involved in the study, said in a report.

Aside from helping manage childhood obesity, probiotics have also other benefits.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that help restore the natural balance of gut bacteria. Having a balanced gut bacteria can prevent digestive issues and allergies, among others.

Probiotics are also known to prevent diarrhea. Besides having good gut health, probiotics can also help keep your heart healthy by lowering bad cholesterol and blood pressure.

Some types of lactic acid-producing bacteria may reduce cholesterol by breaking down bile in the gut. With this, probiotics can prevent it from being reabsorbed in the gut, where it can enter the blood as cholesterol.

Lastly, probiotics may help boost your immune system and inhibit the growth of harmful gut bacteria.