As it turns out, giving obese children and teens some probiotic supplements can help them lose excess weight.

A study presented by Flavia Prodam and her team at e-ECE 2020, found that obese children who were put on a calorie-restricted diet and given the probiotics Bifidobacterium breve BR03 and Bifidobacterium breve B632 lost more weight and exhibited improvements in their insulin sensitivity compared to children who were only put on a calorie-restricted diet.

These findings suggest that probiotic supplements and a calorie-controlled diet may help manage obesity in both children and adolescence, as well as help reduce their risks for conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.

Prodam and her team arrived at this conclusion after giving 100 children and adolescents — all of whom were obese and put on a calorie-controlled diet — either probiotic supplements containing Bifidobacterium breve BR03 and Bifidobacterium breve B632, or a placebo for 8 weeks.

After this period, the team performed a battery of tests to determine the effect of probiotic supplementation on weight gain, gut microbiota and metabolism.

What they found was that those who took the probiotic supplements not only exhibited reductions in their waist circumference and BMI but also their insulin resistance, as well as the E.coli populations in their gut.

These beneficial effects, the researchers said, demonstrate the potential of probiotics in helping to treat obesity in children and adolescents, when undergoing dietary restrictions. That said, the team conceded that larger studies conducted over much longer periods of time are needed to support and verify their conclusions.

“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,” Prodam said.

What are probiotics?

Probiotics are certain types of microorganisms, such as bacteria and yeasts, that when ingested, provide numerous health benefits. These can be taken in the form of supplements, or through fermented foods.

Take note that probiotics should not be confused with the similar-sounding prebiotics. The latter are dietary fibers that serve as food for the friendly bacterial colonies that are already living deep within your gut.

Probiotics typically come from seven main groups: Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Saccharomyces, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, Escherichia and Bacillus. Each group, as noted by experts, contain different species, with each species having many different strains. The colonies formed by these probiotics perform many functions that are important and beneficial to your health.

How do probiotics work?

Probiotics help to maintain a healthy balance in your body mainly by supporting your immune function and controlling inflammation. Aside from supporting the body’s immune function, certain types of good bacteria can also:

• Help your body digest food.
• Keep bad bacteria from getting out of control and making you sick.
• Create vitamins.
• Help support the cells that line your gut to prevent bad bacteria that you may have consumed (through food or drinks) from entering your blood.
• Breakdown and absorb medications

How can I add probiotics to my diet?

Probiotics can be taken in the form of supplements. However, the best way to introduce them to your body is through food, specifically, those that have undergone fermentation.

These probiotic-rich foods include:

Tempeh

A common meat-substitute made from cooked and fermented soybeans, tempeh packs quite the nutritional punch.

According to the Department of Agriculture, this is because tempeh is packed with probiotics, as well as essential minerals like potassium, iron and magnesium.

Aside from that, tempeh also contains all nine essential amino acids, making it a complete vegetable protein source.

Miso

A Japanese fermented paste made from soybeans, miso, according to contains approximately 10² to 10? colony forming units (CFU) per gram of probiotics, making it an excellent naturally-occurring dietary source of good gut bacteria.

Yogurt

One of the most well-known sources of probiotics, yogurt is made by fermenting milk.

Yogurt and other fermented dairy products often contain less lactose than whole milk, which means that they are better suited for those with lactose-intolerance, and similar conditions.

Want a vegan alternative? You’re in luck: yogurt can even be made from plant-sourced options like coconut milk or almond milk.

TIP: Because a lot of the yogurt products on the market are often packed with added sugars and other unnecessary additives, make sure you pick out brands that are organic and all-natural.

Kefir

Originally from Eastern Europe and Southwest Asia, kefir is made by adding colonies of bacteria and other beneficial microorganisms into either cow’s milk or goat’s milk.

The microorganisms present in kefir turn lactose into lactic acid during fermentation, this causes the drink to have a similar flavor profile as yogurt, albeit with a more liquid consistency.

Kimchi

A pungent, spicy and tasty Korean side dish, kimchi is made by fermenting vegetables such as cabbage and green onions with several spices and herbs in an airtight container for a period of time ranging from a few days or up to a week.

Rich in nutrients and low in fat, kimchi has been linked to several health benefits such as healthy digestion, good heart health and even optimal immunity.

Kombucha

An effervescent and tangy drink, kombucha is made by fermenting either black or green tea with a symbiotic culture of yeast and bacteria. Typically sold in a variety of herbal and fruit flavors, kombucha is packed not just with probiotics, but also potent antioxidants.

Prebiotics, whether taken in the form of supplements or fermented foods, are generally safe for consumption, although some people may notice minor side effects such as a temporary increase in gas and abdominal bloating. These will usually clear up in a few days, however.

Read more articles about the health benefits of probiotic-rich foods at FoodIsMedicine.com.

Sources:

News-Medical.net

NCCIH.NIH.gov

NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov