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New research finds that probiotics can help manage childhood obesity

8 Oct 2020

A new study presented at this year’s European Congress of Endocrinology showed that adding the probiotics Bifidobacterium breve BR03 and B632 to a calorie-restricted diet resulted in children losing more weight and achieving improved insulin sensitivity as compared to those who were simply on a reduced calorie diet.

The authors of this study presented their findings at the 22nd annual e-ECE 2020 and pointed to the possibility of these findings leading to healthier outcomes for children, including a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, musculoskeletal disease and even some cancers that result from obesity.

The study followed 100 children from ages 6 to 18 who were obese and resistant to insulin. Insulin resistance is a condition where the body’s cells do not easily absorb glucose leading to a buildup over time which can potentially lead to the onset of type 2 diabetes. Study participants received either a probiotic or a placebo for eight weeks in addition to a modified diet.

While all participants experienced a reduction in body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, insulin resistance and concentrations of E. coli bacteria in their guts, those who ingested probiotics had amplified results. Furthermore, the effects of this probiotic lasted for several weeks following the conclusion of the study.

This finding, according to Dr. Christopher Moran, a pediatric gastroenterologist and director of the Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Fellowship at MassGeneral Hospital for Children in Boston, who wasn't involved in the study, is unusual. "Many studies show that when you stop taking the probiotic, it vanishes in the intestines and doesn't have long-lasting (effects)," he said in a statement.

The idea that probiotics are a healthy addition to a diet is nothing new. However, prior to this study, probiotics were administered as mixtures of different strains of Bifidobacteria. This time, scientists wanted to focus exclusively on the BR03 and B63 strains, which are known to help in the restoration of an individual’s gut biome, a phenomenon linked to weight loss.

Bifidobacteria naturally occur in fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, goat milk, aged cheeses, kimchi, miso and sauerkraut as well as non-fermented options like wheat, onion, banana, garlic and leek. They have been shown to release short-chain fatty acids that curb hunger and also aid in the digestion of carbohydrates and dietary fiber. Having a limited number in the gastrointestinal tract can affect digestion and energy expenditure that can amount to weight gain over time.

Although a positive finding, the authors of this study noted that more research needs to be done. The study's lead author, Dr. Flavia Prodam, an associate professor in clinical nutrition in the department of health sciences at the University of Piemonte Orientale in Italy said the next step is individual investigations. "The next step for our research is to identify patients that could benefit from this probiotic treatment, with a view to creating a more personalized weight-loss strategy. We also want to decipher more clearly the role of diet and probiotics on microbiome composition. This could help us to understand how the microbiota is different in young people with obesity," she said.