Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Investigation of the probiotic supplement’s effect on obese adults demonstrated a reduction in fasting insulin levels: a double-blind randomized clinical trial

  • Research article
  • Published:
Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Regarding the importance of obesity concerns and trying to help obese individuals, we planned to develop an effective probiotic formula for weight control. So, this double-blind randomized clinical trial study investigated the impact of probiotics supplementation on anthropometric and biochemical parameters in obese adults.

Methods

In this study, 66 obese patients with BMI in the range of 30–40 kg/m2, were enrolled and randomly assigned to either the probiotic or placebo group. They all received advice to maintain a reduction in daily caloric intake and for 3 months received two unlabeled placebo or probiotic (Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium langum) capsules per day. For each participant demographic and medical history questionnaire, semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and modifiable activity questionnaire (MAQ) were completed at the beginning of the study and anthropometric and biochemical measurements were done before and after intervention.

Results

At the end of the trial 25 subjects in the probiotic group and 26 subjects in the placebo group were analyzed. After the intervention, in the probiotic group, the level of fasting insulin was reduced significantly (P < 0.05). Weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and hip circumference decreased within both groups. This reduction amount’s mean was higher in the probiotic group. Also, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL levels were decreased, but not statistically significant.

Conclusion

This study may suggest the potential of this combined probiotic supplement for treating obesity and related metabolic disorders. However, further researches are warranted for a definitive determination of its properties.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The primary data for this study is available from the authors on direct request.

References

  1. Friedman JM, Obesity. Causes and control of excess body fat. Nature. 2009;459(7245):340–2. https://doi.org/10.1038/459340a.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Aoun A, Darwish F, Hamod N. The influence of the gut microbiome on obesity in adults and the role of Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics for Weight loss. Prev Nutr food Sci. 2020;25(2):113–23. https://doi.org/10.3746/pnf.2020.25.2.113.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Baothman OA, Zamzami MA, Taher I, Abubaker J, Abu-Farha M. The role of gut microbiota in the development of obesity and diabetes. Lipids Health Dis. 2016;15(1):108. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12944-016-0278-4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Laparra JM, Sanz Y. Interactions of gut microbiota with functional food components and nutraceuticals. Pharmacol Res. 2010;61(3):219–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2009.11.001.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Festi D, Schiumerini R, Eusebi LH, Marasco G, Taddia M, Colecchia A. Gut microbiota and metabolic syndrome. World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(43):16079–94. https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v20.i43.16079.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Hill C, Guarner F, Reid G, Gibson GR, Merenstein DJ, Pot B, et al. Expert consensus document. The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics consensus statement on the scope and appropriate use of the term probiotic. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2014;11(8):506–14. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2014.66.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Plaza-Diaz J, Ruiz-Ojeda FJ, Gil-Campos M, Gil A. Mechanisms of action of Probiotics. Advances in nutrition (Bethesda. Md). 2019;10(suppl1):49–S66. https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmy063.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Cai Y, Liu P, Zhou X, Yuan J, Chen Q. Probiotics therapy show significant improvement in obesity and neurobehavioral disorders symptoms. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2023;13:1178399. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2023.1178399.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Shirvani-Rad S, Tabatabaei-Malazy O, Mohseni S, Hasani-Ranjbar S, Soroush AR, Hoseini-Tavassol Z, et al. Probiotics as a complementary therapy for management of obesity: a systematic review. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021;2021:6688450. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6688450.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Gabriel FC, Fantuzzi G. The association of short-chain fatty acids and leptin metabolism: a systematic review. Nutr Res. 2019;72:18–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nutres.2019.08.006.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Alvarez-Arrano V, Martin-Pelaez S. Effects of Probiotics and Synbiotics on Weight loss in subjects with overweight or obesity: a systematic review. Nutrients. 2021;13(10):3627. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13103627.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Le Barz M, Daniel N, Varin TV, Naimi S, Demers-Mathieu V, Pilon G, et al. In vivo screening of multiple bacterial strains identifies Lactobacillus rhamnosus Lb102 and Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis Bf141 as probiotics that improve metabolic disorders in a mouse model of obesity. FASEB J. 2019;33(4):4921–35. https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.201801672R.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Nova E, Perez de Heredia F, Gomez-Martinez S, Marcos A. The role of Probiotics on the Microbiota: effect on obesity. Nutr Clin Pract. 2016;31(3):387–400. https://doi.org/10.1177/0884533615620350.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Razmpoosh E, Ejtahed HS, Mirmiran P, Javadi M. Role of Probiotics in Glycemic controls and Body Weight in Type 2 diabetes: a systematic of Human and Animal studies. Iran J Endocrinol Metabolism. 2015;17(1):63–87.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Mekkes MC, Weenen TC, Brummer RJ, Claassen E. The development of probiotic treatment in obesity: a review. Benef Microbes. 2014;5(1):19–28. https://doi.org/10.3920/BM2012.0069.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Esfahani FH, Asghari G, Mirmiran P, Azizi F. Reproducibility and relative validity of food group intake in a food frequency questionnaire developed for the Tehran lipid and glucose study. J Epidemiol. 2010;20(2):150–8. https://doi.org/10.2188/jea.je20090083.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Mirmiran P, Esfahani FH, Mehrabi Y, Hedayati M, Azizi F. Reliability and relative validity of an FFQ for nutrients in the Tehran lipid and glucose study. Public Health Nutr. 2010;13(5):654–62. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980009991698.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Momenan AA, Delshad M, Sarbazi N, Rezaei Ghaleh N, Ghanbarian A, Azizi F. Reliability and validity of the Modifiable Activity Questionnaire (MAQ) in an Iranian urban adult population. Arch Iran Med. 2012;15(5):279– 82. https://doi.org/012155/AIM.007

  19. Park SY, Gautier JF, Chon S. Assessment of insulin secretion and insulin resistance in human. Diabetes Metabolism J. 2021;45(5):641–54. https://doi.org/10.4093/dmj.2021.0220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Ejtahed HS, Tito RY, Siadat SD, Hasani-Ranjbar S, Hoseini-Tavassol Z, Rymenans L, et al. Metformin induces weight loss associated with gut microbiota alteration in non-diabetic obese women: a randomized double-blind clinical trial. Eur J Endocrinol. 2019;180(3):165–76. https://doi.org/10.1530/eje-18-0826.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Dong Y, Xu M, Chen L, Bhochhibhoya A. Probiotic foods and supplements interventions for metabolic syndromes: a systematic review and Meta-analysis of recent clinical trials. Ann Nutr Metab. 2019;74(3):224–41. https://doi.org/10.1159/000499028.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Koutnikova H, Genser B, Monteiro-Sepulveda M, Faurie JM, Rizkalla S, Schrezenmeir J, et al. Impact of bacterial probiotics on obesity, diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease related variables: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ Open. 2019;9(3):e017995. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017995.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Wang ZB, Xin SS, Ding LN, Ding WY, Hou YL, Liu CQ, et al. The potential role of Probiotics in Controlling Overweight/Obesity and Associated Metabolic Parameters in adults: a systematic review and Meta-analysis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019;2019:3862971. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/3862971.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Cao S, Ryan PM, Salehisahlabadi A, Abdulazeem HM, Karam G, Černevičiūtė R, et al. Effect of probiotic and synbiotic formulations on anthropometrics and adiponectin in overweight and obese participants: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J King Saud Univ - Sci. 2020;32(2):1738–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jksus.2020.01.011.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Crovesy L, Ostrowski M, Ferreira DMTP, Rosado EL, Soares-Mota M. Effect of Lactobacillus on body weight and body fat in overweight subjects: a systematic review of randomized controlled clinical trials. Int J Obes. 2017;41(11):1607–14. https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2017.161.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Sanchez M, Darimont C, Panahi S, Drapeau V, Marette A, Taylor VH, et al. Effects of a Diet-Based weight-reducing program with probiotic supplementation on Satiety Efficiency, eating Behaviour traits, and Psychosocial behaviours in obese individuals. Nutrients. 2017;9(3):284. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9030284.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. Sanchez M, Darimont C, Drapeau V, Emady-Azar S, Lepage M, Rezzonico E, et al. Effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus CGMCC1.3724 supplementation on weight loss and maintenance in obese men and women. Br J Nutr. 2013;111(8):1507–19. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114513003875.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Jung S, Lee YJ, Kim M, Kim M, Kwak JH, Lee J-W, et al. Supplementation with two probiotic strains, Lactobacillus curvatus HY7601 and Lactobacillus plantarum KY1032, reduced body adiposity and Lp-PLA2 activity in overweight subjects. J Funct Foods. 2015;19:744–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2015.10.006.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Sun J, Buys N. Effects of probiotics consumption on lowering lipids and CVD risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Ann Med. 2015;47(6):430–40. https://doi.org/10.3109/07853890.2015.1071872.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Gadelha C, Bezerra AN. Effects of probiotics on the lipid profile: systematic review. Jornal Vascular Brasileiro. 2019;18:e20180124. https://doi.org/10.1590/1677-5449.180124.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  31. Noriega L, Cuevas I, Margolles A, de los Reyes-Gavilán CG. Deconjugation and bile salts hydrolase activity by Bifidobacterium strains with acquired resistance to bile. Int Dairy J. 2006;16(8):850–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idairyj.2005.09.008.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Wang LX, Liu K, Gao DW, Hao JK. Protective effects of two Lactobacillus plantarum strains in hyperlipidemic mice. World J Gastroenterol. 2013;19(20):3150–6. https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v19.i20.3150.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  33. Rajkumar H, Mahmood N, Kumar M, Varikuti SR, Challa HR, Myakala SP. Effect of probiotic (VSL#3) and omega-3 on lipid profile, insulin sensitivity, inflammatory markers, and gut colonization in overweight adults: a randomized, controlled trial. Mediat Inflamm. 2014;2014:348959. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/348959.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Khalili L, Alipour B, Asghari Jafarabadi M, Hassanalilou T, Mesgari Abbasi M, Faraji I. Probiotic assisted weight management as a main factor for glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial. Diabetol Metab Syndr. 2019;11(1):5. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13098-019-0400-7.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  35. Bourebaba L, Marycz K. Pathophysiological implication of Fetuin-A glycoprotein in the development of metabolic disorders: a concise review. J Clin Med. 2019;8(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm8122033.

  36. Ye X, Li M, Hou T, Gao T, Zhu WG, Yang Y. Sirtuins in glucose and lipid metabolism. Oncotarget. 2017;8(1):1845–59. https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.12157.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Markowiak-Kopeć P, Śliżewska K. The Effect of Probiotics on the production of short-chain fatty acids by human intestinal microbiome. Nutrients. 2020;12(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12041107.

  38. da Silva AA, do Carmo JM, Hall JE. CNS regulation of glucose homeostasis: role of the leptin-melanocortin system. Curr Diab Rep. 2020;20(7):29. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-020-01311-1.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Münzberg H, Singh P, Heymsfield SB, Yu S, Morrison CD. Recent advances in understanding the role of leptin in energy homeostasis. F1000Research. 2020;9. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.24260.1.

  40. den Besten G, van Eunen K, Groen AK, Venema K, Reijngoud DJ, Bakker BM. The role of short-chain fatty acids in the interplay between diet, gut microbiota, and host energy metabolism. J Lipid Res. 2013;54(9):2325–40. https://doi.org/10.1194/jlr.R036012.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Wróblewski A, Strycharz J, Świderska E, Drewniak K, Drzewoski J, Szemraj J, et al. Molecular insight into the Interaction between epigenetics and Leptin in Metabolic disorders. Nutrients. 2019;11(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11081872.

  42. Dubern B, Clément K, Pelloux V, Froguel P, Girardet JP, Guy-Grand B, et al. Mutational analysis of melanocortin-4 receptor, agouti-related protein, and alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone genes in severely obese children. J Pediatr. 2001;139(2):204–9. https://doi.org/10.1067/mpd.2001.116284.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Soldavini J, Kaunitz JD. Pathobiology and potential therapeutic value of intestinal short-chain fatty acids in gut inflammation and obesity. Dig Dis Sci. 2013;58(10):2756–66. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-013-2744-4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  44. Kullisaar T, Zilmer K, Salum T, Rehema A, Zilmer M. The use of probiotic L. Fermentum ME-3 containing Reg’activ cholesterol supplement for 4 weeks has a positive influence on blood lipoprotein profiles and inflammatory cytokines: an open-label preliminary study. Nutr J. 2016;15(1):93. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-016-0213-6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  45. Zarrati M, Salehi E, Mofid V, Zadeh-Attar MJH, Nourijelyani K, Bidad K et al. Relationship between probiotic consumption and IL-10 and IL-17 secreted by PBMCs in overweight and obese people. Iran J Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2013:404–6.

Download references

Acknowledgements

The tablets were kindly provided by Takgene Zist Co., Iran.

Funding

This study was funded by the Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Number: 1397–02-108–2299).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Obesity and Eating Habits Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Shirin Hasani-Ranjbar, Zahra Hoseini Tavassol, Hanieh Malmir & Hanieh-Sadat Ejtahed

  2. Nutrition and Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Hanieh Malmir

  3. Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Hanieh-Sadat Ejtahed & Bagher Larijani

  4. Department of Biology, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Maryam Tajabadi Ebrahimi

Authors
  1. Shirin Hasani-Ranjbar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zahra Hoseini Tavassol
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hanieh Malmir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hanieh-Sadat Ejtahed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Maryam Tajabadi Ebrahimi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Bagher Larijani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

SHR: Conceptualization, designing, project administration, supervision, writing– review & editing. ZHT: Investigation, writing– original draft. HM: Investigation, writing– review & editing. HSE: Conceptualization, designing, supervision, writing– review & editing. MET and BL: Conceptualization, writing– review & editing. All authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Shirin Hasani-Ranjbar or Hanieh-Sadat Ejtahed.

Ethics declarations

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hasani-Ranjbar, S., Hoseini Tavassol, Z., Malmir, H. et al. Investigation of the probiotic supplement’s effect on obese adults demonstrated a reduction in fasting insulin levels: a double-blind randomized clinical trial. J Diabetes Metab Disord (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40200-024-01400-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40200-024-01400-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation