Emma McGowan NatureCity author & contributor

A 2006 study found that microbial populations in the guts of obese and lean people are different. This suggests that changing their gut microflora may help obese people lose weight. A new study has found that taking a probiotic supplement may result in an 8.5% decrease in abdominal fat in obese people.

The study included 210 healthy obese adults. Over the course of 12 weeks, one third of the group took a fermented milk product supplemented with 10 million cfus of Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055 (LG2055), one third took the same product supplemented with 1 million cfus of LG2055, and one third took only the fermented milk with no supplementation.

At the conclusion of the study, the researchers noted an 8.5% decrease in abdominal visceral fat in the 10 million group and an 8.2% decrease in the 1 million group. They also noted significant decreases in BMI, waist and hip circumferences, and body fat mass.

Additionally, the researchers noted that the changes were diminished four weeks after the conclusion of the study. This suggests that the supplement needs to be taken continually in order for the positive effects to continue.

Researchers from the Megmilk Snow Brand Company Limited conducted the study. It was published online ahead of print on April 25, 2013, in the British Journal of Nutrition.
Probiotics are most commonly linked to improving digestion and gut health, but they have also been shown to have other health benefits, including a stronger immune system, and a reduced risk of chronic disease.

Probiotics can be found naturally in many foods, such as yogurt, milk and sauerkraut. You may also consider taking a high quality supplement but make sure it is packaged to block light, air and moisture which can easily kill probiotics.

Sarah McGowan-Freije, NatureCity author & contributor

Probiotic supplementation may help reduce the risk of developing hepatic encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis (liver disease).

Hepatic encephalopathy is a spectrum of neuropsychiatric abnormalities that occur in people with liver failure. Symptoms range from disorientation to coma and it is extremely hard to treat.

Participants in the study included 160 individuals with cirrhosis between the ages of 18 and 80 years old. Eighty-six of the participants were given a probiotic supplement three times daily while the other 74 were used as a control group.

The researchers followed the participants for 38 to 40 weeks (or until an individual died). They were tested every three months for arterial ammonia levels, critical flicker frequency, glucose hydrogen, and lactulose hydrogen breath tests.

During the course of the trial, six participants in the probiotic group and five in the control group passed away.

At the three-month point, the researchers found notable improvements in arterial ammonia, small intestinal bacterial growth, transit time in the small intestine, and minimal hepatic encephalopathy in the probiotic group. At the conclusion of the study, they calculated that the control group was two times more likely to develop hepatic encephalopathy than the probiotic group.

The researchers believe that these positive effects are a result of the probiotics changing participant’s gut microbiota in such a way that they combat ammonia buildup, which has been shown to lead to hepatic encephalopathy.

Researchers from the G.B. Pant Hospital in New Delhi, India, conducted the study. It was presented at the International Liver Congress the week of April 24, 2013.
Probiotics are most commonly linked to improving digestion and gut health, but they have also been shown to have other health benefits, including weight loss, a stronger immune system, and a reduced risk of chronic disease.

Probiotics can be found naturally in many foods, such as yogurt, milk and sauerkraut. You may also consider taking a high quality supplement but make sure it is packaged to block light, air and moisture which can easily kill probiotics.

Emma McGowan NatureCity author & contributor

Optimizing peak bone mass during childhood and adolescence has been shown to help prevent osteoporosis later in life. A recent study suggests that taking prebiotic supplements may change gut microbiota in pre-adolescent girls, enabling them to absorb calcium more efficiently.

Osteoporosis affects 44 million people in the United States. Previous studies have found a connection between low calcium levels and the development of osteoporosis, which most often manifests itself as bone fractures in mature adults.

The study included 31 girls between the ages of 10 and 13. Over three 3-week periods, the girls consumed a smoothie drinking containing either 5 or 10 grams of galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) or a control smoothie containing no GOS. The researchers focused on this age group because about 35% of bone mass development happens in puberty.

Calcium absorption was increased when participants consumed the prebiotic smoothie, with improvements seen in both the high and low dose groups. The researchers also noted an increase in the gut microbiota bifidobacteria, which has been linked to increased calcium absorption.

The study was conducted at Purdue University and FrieslandCampina. It was published online ahead of print on March 14, 2013, in the British Journal of Nutrition.

Prebiotics help your body produce good bacteria called probiotics by serving as food for the friendly bacteria. Having a varied composition of bacteria in your digestive system is essential for good gut health. Previous studies have linked healthy gut bacteria with strengthening the immune system, better gum health, weight loss, and reducing the risk of chronic disease.

Sarah McGowan-Freije, NatureCity author & contributor

When people think of probiotics, they generally think of maintaining good gut health. A recent study shows, however, that there may be a link between gut health and experienced emotion and sensation. Specifically, researchers found that taking a daily supplement of a fermented milk product containing five probiotic strains daily may change brain responsiveness in women.

The probiotic strains included in the fermented milk product were Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. Lactis, Streptococcus thermophiles, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, and Lactococcus lactis subsp. Lactis.

Previous studies in animals have shown that modification of gut microbiota can alter emotional behavior and instinctive reflexes. This is the first study to measure this link in humans.

The study included 36 women without any reported gastrointestinal or psychiatric symptoms. Over the course of four weeks, one group ate probiotic yogurt twice daily, the second ate yogurt without probiotics twice daily, and the third served as a control with no intervention.

Functional MRI’s were administered to the participants prior to and after the intervention. The MRI’s measured brain response to pictures of emotional facial expressions.

The researchers found changes in the activity of the areas of the brain associated with emotion and sensation in the probiotic yogurt group, but no changes in the other two groups. They plan further studies to determine which of the brain’s pathways are specifically affected by the microbiota.

The study was conducted by researchers at UCLA and Danone. It was published online ahead of print on March 7, 2012, in Gastroenterology.

Probiotics are most commonly known for improving digestion and gut health, but they have also been linked to other health benefits, including weight loss, a stronger immune system, and a reduced risk of chronic disease.

Probiotics can be found naturally in many foods, such as yogurt, milk and sauerkraut. You may also consider taking a high quality supplement but make sure it is packaged to block light, air and moisture which can easily kill probiotics.

Scott Greenberg, NatureCity author & contributor

Over time, the gut microbiota in overweight individuals is altered to a less beneficial composition, which can result in inflammation. Inflammation has been linked to the onset of metabolic syndrome. Researchers have found that improving the gut microbiota composition using prebiotics may help combat metabolic syndrome and boost immune function in overweight individuals.

Metabolic syndrome is characterized by a group of risk factors that include obesity, hypertension, high levels of blood lipids and high blood sugar.

Participants in the study included 45 overweight individuals with at least 3 risk factors for metabolic syndrome. Over the course of 12 weeks, half of the group took a 5.5 gram maltodextrin placebo while the other half took a 5.5 gram prebiotic supplement. This was followed by a four week washout period, after which the participants switched interventions.

At the conclusion of the study, the researchers noted higher levels of beneficial bacteria and lower levels of less desirable bacteria in the participant’s fecal matter when they were taking the prebiotic supplement. They also noted lower levels of inflammation marker C-reactive protein, triglycerides, total cholesterol , and insulin as well as an improved ratio of total cholesterol to HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels.

The immune response in participants was also strengthened during the prebiotic supplement period.

The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Reading in the UK. It was published in the March 2013 issue of The Journal of Nutrition.

Prebiotics help your body produce good bacteria called probiotics and serve as food for the friendly bacteria. Having a varied composition of bacteria in your digestive system is essential for good gut health. Previous studies have linked healthy gut bacteria with strengthening the immune system, better gum health, weight loss, and reducing the risk of chronic disease.

Emma McGowan NatureCity author & contributor

High increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). A recent animal study showed that supplements of the probiotic lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) lowered total cholesterol levels in rats by 32%. Supplements of LGG and aloe Vera lowered them even further, to 43%.

The researchers divided the rats into four different intervention groups:

1. control with normal diet

2. hypercholesterolemic (high cholesterol) diet with LGG

3. hypercholesterolemic diet with aloe Vera

4. hypercholesterolemic with a combination of LGG and aloe Vera

The rats stayed on the diets for 45 days. At the end of the study period, the LGG and aloe Vera group saw the lowering of total cholesterol mentioned above, as well as a 12% increase in HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels, improvements in triacylglycerol levels, a 45% reduction in very low-density lipoprotein and a 30% reduction in low-density lipoprotein.

The study was conducted by researchers from India’s National Institute of Nutrition. It was published online ahead of print on January 3, 2013, in the journal Nutrition.

Aloe Vera has been linked to a number of health benefits, including helping to heal burns and insect bites, improved oral health, lowering inflammation, improving digestion, improving blood sugar control, and improving cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Probiotics are most commonly known for improving digestion and gut health, but they have also been linked to other health benefits including a stronger immune system and a reduced risk of chronic disease.

Probiotics can be found naturally in many foods, such as yogurt, milk and sauerkraut. You may also consider taking a high quality supplement but make sure it is packaged to block light, air and moisture which can easily kill probiotics.

Scott Greenberg, NatureCity author & contributor

Researchers at the Nestle Research Center conducted a trial during peak season for pollen (May to August) in order to measure the real life impact of probiotic supplementation on seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever).

They found that taking a probiotic supplement daily reduced allergy symptoms as well as inflammatory and allergic markers in individuals with hay fever.

The study included 20 adults with hay fever who took either a probiotic supplement ((NCC)2818 Bifidobacterium lactis) or a placebo for 8 weeks. The participants completed symptom questionnaires every week.

Researchers noted that a significant reduction in nasal symptoms occurred in the second month of the study in the supplement group. They also found that markers of allergic responses, specifically Th-2 cytokines, in the supplement group were lower than those in the placebo group. Cytokines play a critical role in orchestrating and amplifying the inflammatory response due to allergies.

Additionally, they noted less activation of white blood cells called basophils after just four weeks. Basophils become activated in response to an allergic episode and measuring basophil activation is commonly used to diagnose allergies.

The study was online ahead of print on January 9, 2013, in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Having a varied composition of bacteria in your digestive system is essential for good gut health. Previous studies have linked healthy gut bacteria with strengthening the immune system, better gum health, weight loss, and reducing the risk of chronic disease.

The best way to make sure you have a good variety of bacteria in your system is to eat a varied diet. Good dietary sources of gut bacteria include yogurt, milk and sauerkraut. A high quality probiotic supplement is also a great source but if you choose this option, be sure it is packaged to block light, air and moisture which can easily kill probiotics.

Emma McGowan NatureCity author & contributor

A recent study suggests that the type of bacteria you have in your gut may be associated with a higher risk of stroke and atherosclerosis. Researchers believe that the type of bacteria in the gut can alter levels of inflammation and affect metabolic pathways.

In order to determine the differences between healthy subjects and those who had suffered from stroke or atherosclerosis, the researchers performed genetic sequencing on the gut metagenome and found significant differences between the two groups. Specifically, the atherosclerosis group had more of the genus Collinsella, while the healthy groups had more Roseburia and Eubacterium.

The researchers stated that, while they could not determine causality, there was a definite associated between the composition of gut microbiota and the risk of stroke and atherosclerosis.

The study was conducted by researchers at the Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden. It was published on December 4, 2012, in the journal Nature Communications.

Having a varied composition of bacteria in your digestive system is essential for good gut health. Previous studies have linked healthy gut bacteria with strengthening the immune system, better gum health, weight loss, and reducing the risk of chronic disease.

The best way to make sure you have a good variety of bacteria in your system is to eat a varied diet. Good dietary sources of gut bacteria include yogurt, milk and sauerkraut. A high quality probiotic supplement is also a great source but if you choose this option, be sure it is packaged to block light, air and moisture which can easily kill probiotics.

Sarah McGowan-Freije, NatureCity author & contributor

Eating probiotic-rich yogurt every day could potentially reduce body fat levels by up to 4% and improve metabolism in overweight adults.

Participants in the study included 28 healthy but overweight individuals who received one of three interventions every day for 43 days:

1. yogurt containing Lactobacillus amylovorus;

2. yogurt containing Lactobacillus fermentum;

3. plain yogurt with no additional probiotics.

At the conclusion of the study, the groups showed a 4%, 3% and 1% reduction in body fat mass, respectively.

Changes in the levels of the gut microflora Clostridial Cluster IV were also noted in the Lactobacillus amylovorus group. The researchers hypothesize that a decrease in Clostridial Cluster IV may facilitate fat loss.

The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Manitoba, McGill University, and Micropharma Limited in Canada. It was published online ahead of print on October 9, 2012, in the Journal of Functional Foods.

Probiotics are most commonly known for improving digestion and gut health, but they have also been linked to other health benefits including a stronger immune system and a reduced risk of chronic disease.

Probiotics can be found naturally in many foods, such as yogurt, milk and sauerkraut. You may also consider taking a high quality supplement but make sure it is packaged to block light, air and moisture which can easily kill probiotics.

Emma McGowan NatureCity author & contributor

There are two different kinds of cholesterol: HDL ( “good”) cholesterol and LDL ( “bad”) cholesterol. A recent study suggests that probiotics may lower LDL cholesterol by 11.6%.

The study included 127 individuals with high cholesterol. Over the course of nine weeks, half of the group took a probiotic supplement consisting of 200 mg of the bacteria Lactobacillus reuteri NCIMB 30242, while the other half took a placebo.

At the conclusion of the study, the probiotic group not only had lower LDL cholesterol but also showed a 6.3% reduction in cholesterol esters and an 8.8% reduction in cholesterol ester saturated fatty acids.

Cholesterol esters form by the transfer of fatty acids to cholesterol. They have a very low ability to dissolve in blood and tend to accumulate in the walls of arteries, which can lead to atherosclerosis.

The study was presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2012 the week of November 3, 2012. It was conducted by researchers at McGill University in Canada.

Probiotics are most commonly known for improving digestion and gut health, but they have also been linked to other health benefits including weight loss, a stronger immune system, and a reduced risk of chronic disease.

Probiotics can be found naturally in many foods, such as yogurt, milk and sauerkraut. You may also consider taking a high quality supplement but make sure it is packaged to block light, air and moisture which can easily kill probiotics.