Research
Hormonal
Gut microbiota composition influences energy homeostasis and obesity development through mechanisms involving short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), bile acid metabolism, and systemic inflammation.
If you are considering probiotics for weight management, look for specific strains like Lactobacillus casei Shirota, L. gasseri, L. rhamnosus, or L. plantarum, as well as Bifidobacterium infantis, longum, and breve. However, do not expect all probiotics to work, as some strains have shown no effect or even increased weight gain in studies.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
The gut microbiota plays an important role in the absorption, storage, and expenditure of energy obtained from dietary intake
Why this rating
Based on animal studies with varying protocols and mixed results across strains.
Source
The Role of Probiotics and Prebiotics in the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity
Tomás Cerdó et al. · Nutrients · 2019
DOI 10.3390/nu11030635
narrative_reviewCited 392×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Specific probiotic strains (Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium) can reduce body weight gain and fat accumulation in animal models of obesity, though effects are strain-specific and not universal.Moderate
- Prebiotics (e.g., oligofructose, inulin) can improve metabolic phenotypes, reduce triglycerides, and increase satiety hormones (GLP-1, PYY) in animal models, potentially aiding weight control.Moderate
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