Probiotics Promote Weight Loss, BMI Reduction, Study Says

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A new meta-analysis of 25 randomized, controlled human clinical trials suggest probiotic consumption may significantly reduce body weight and body mass index (BMI). The findings are especially noteworthy considering the mixed results of past studies investigating the connection between probiotics and weight loss, explained researchers.

“To date, quite a few researchers have investigated the effects of probiotics on body weight and BMI, without a consistent result,” said Qingqing Zhang, lead author of the study.

By examining 25 studies, most of which were conducted in the past six years, researchers found that probiotic consumption significantly reduced body weight by 0.59 kg and BMI by 0.49 kg/m². The greatest reductions in BMI occurred in overweight adults and in adults taking probiotics for eight weeks or longer.

Another interesting finding was that consuming multiple species of probiotics resulted in greater weight loss than just consuming a single species of probiotics.

Probiotic species and dose varied among the studies included in the meta-analysis, which included a total of more than 1,900 healthy adults over the age of 18.

Read more:

Cranberry Plus Probiotics Defends against E. Coli in Preclinical Study

A 2016 Update: Promising New Science on Probiotics

Can Enzymes, Probiotics, and Prebiotics Work Together in One Product?

Michael Crane
Associate Editor
Nutritional Outlook Magazine
michael.crane@ubm.com

References:

Zhang Q et al., “Effects of probiotics on body weight and body-mass index: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials,” International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, vol. 67, no. 5 (August 2016): 571–580