AUTHOR=Niu Xiaokang , Zhang Qi , Liu Julong , Zhao Yuyang , Shang Nan , Li Shusen , Liu Yinghua , Xiong Wei , Sun Erna , Zhang Yong , Zhao Hongfeng , Li Yixuan , Wang Pengjie , Fang Bing , Zhao Liang , Chen Juan , Wang Fuqing , Pang Guofang , Wang Chenyuan , He Jingjing , Wang Ran 

TITLE=Effect of synbiotic supplementation on obesity and gut microbiota in obese adults: a double-blind randomized controlled trial

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nutrition

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2024.1510318

DOI=10.3389/fnut.2024.1510318

ISSN=2296-861X

ABSTRACT=<sec id="sec1"><title>Background</title><p>Synbiotics, combining specific probiotics and selected prebiotics, may benefit health issues like obesity, but evidence remains inconsistent.</p></sec><sec id="sec2"><title>Objective</title><p>This study aimed to verify the effect of a pre-screened synbiotics combination [containing <italic>Bifidobacterium animalis</italic> subsp. <italic>lactis</italic> MN-Gup (MN-Gup), galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) and xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS)] on obesity in the population.</p></sec><sec id="sec3"><title>Methods</title><p>In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 80 individuals with obesity consumed daily synbiotics (containing MN-Gup 1 × 10<sup>11</sup> CFU/day, GOS 0.7 g/day, and XOS 0.7 g/day) or placebo for 12 weeks. Body composition, blood lipids, serum hormone, bile acids, and gut microbiota were measured pre-and post-intervention.</p></sec><sec id="sec4"><title>Results</title><p>Synbiotics supplementation significantly decreased body fat percentage, waist, and serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), increased peptide YY, cholecystokinin, oxyntomodulin, GSH (glutathione peroxidase) in individuals with obesity. Additionally, synbiotic supplementation led to an enrichment of beneficial bacteria and bile acids chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA). <italic>Bifidobacterium</italic> and <italic>Romboutsia</italic> were significantly positively correlated with CDCA. A more favorable effect was observed in individuals with obesity and abnormal LDL-C compared to those without dyslipidemia.</p></sec><sec id="sec5"><title>Conclusion</title><p>Twelve-week synbiotics intervention reduced body fat percentage, waist, and serum LDL-C, especially in individuals with obesity and abnormal LDL-C. The possible mechanisms may be related to changes in gut microbiota, bile acids and gut hormones.</p></sec><sec id="sec6"><title>Clinical trial registration</title><p><uri xlink:href="https://Chictr.org.cn" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Chictr.org.cn</uri>, identifier ChiCTR2200064156.</p></sec>