Can Probiotic Supplements Really Help With Weight Loss?

With the world going into a fast-forward mode, the pace of life has resulted in an increase in obesity worldwide. There is a mad rush for the health and fitness centers, diet practitioners, and medical professionals by people angling for drastic weight loss. Here we will talk about the effect that probiotics have on weight loss. 

Meaning of probiotics

Probiotics are live microorganisms that have a lot of benefits and help in maintaining good health. They are mainly found in the colon, but are present in many other parts of the body as well. Probiotics can, according to Times Union, help in improving your immune system as well as heart and digestive functions. Fermented foods and supplements are a rich source of probiotics. Yogurt is said to be the best source of probiotics and is very rich in it. 

Effect of probiotics on weight loss

Hundreds of micro bacteria or probiotics are present in our digestive system. Many of them have a positive effect on our body by producing important nutrients like vitamin K and B. The body is unable to digest the fibers in the diet and the probiotics help by converting them into advantageous short-chain fatty acids by breaking them down. 

You find two main types of good bacteria in the gut;  firmicutes and bacteroidetes. The weight a person carries depends on the balance between these two bacteria. Studies have shown that the gut bacteria present in obese people are different from those in people with moderate weight. Obese people are said to have more of firmicutes than bacteroidetes. The fewer gut bacteria you have, the more likely you are to put on weight. [Probiotics can also play a role in managing menopause weight gain. If you're interested in learning more about probiotics to stop menopause weight gain, Better Body's article on probiotics offers valuable information and recommendations in this regard.]

Probiotic supplements

Nowadays, there are many probiotics available as supplements that can be taken in the form of pills or tablets. Of course, you need to make the right choice if you want to lose weight with a good probiotic supplement as there are a variety of supplements available on the market. The probiotic supplements must be accompanied by probiotics present naturally in food products. The best way to consume probiotics through food is the intake of dairy products. 

Probiotics and weight loss

A simple intake of probiotics to change the ratio of both good bacteria can help reduce weight. Different studies have different theories about the effect of probiotics on weight loss. Some studies say that probiotics reduce the absorption of fats in the body thereby helping in weight loss. There are many other ways in which probiotics help you lose weight. 

They release hormones like peptide YY and glucagon-like peptide-1 which burn the fat and calories in your body. They also increase the levels of proteins that regulate fat in the body. They are known to increase the levels of the protein angiopoietin-like 4 leading to a decrease in fat storage. 

Obesity is also related to swelling and inflammation of the body. Probiotics work on your gut lining and keep it healthy thereby reducing systemic inflammation.  

Lactobacillus gasseri

This strain of bacteria is known to have the maximum effect on weight loss. Studies have been conducted on rodents which show that it has an anti-obesity effect on people. Studies have also been conducted on human adults and have shown positive results. 

One such study was conducted on 210 obese people who had a lot of belly fat. The results showed that taking Lactobacillus gasseri for a period of 12 weeks decreased not only the body weight but also the fat around the organs, the waist size, body mass index, and hip circumference. A reduction of 8.5% was found in belly fat. 

Other strains

There are many other strains of probiotics available that can reduce body weight and belly fat. An eight-week study was conducted on obese women. They took a combination of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus or a placebo along with a proper diet. Those who consumed the probiotics lost more weight than those who took the placebo. 

Another study conducted on 135 people with a lot of belly fat showed that they lost a large amount of the fat after consuming Bifidobacterium animalis lactis on a daily basis for a period of 3 months. They also showed a difference in the waist circumference and reduced BMI. 

There is a direct corelation between our gut microbiome and weight. Gut bacteria present in obese people are very different from those in people with moderate weight. It is proven that good gut bacteria not only help in preventing weight gain but also reduce the weight already gained and belly fat as well. You must choose judiciously or consult a physician before deciding on the probiotic supplements you need to take.