Research

Mixed

Prebiotics and probiotics can positively modulate gut microbiota by increasing butyrate producers and reducing body fat, offering a potential alternative or adjunct to restrictive diets and surgery for improving metabolic outcomes.

If you are looking to support your gut health and potentially reduce body fat without drastic dietary changes or surgery, consider trying specific prebiotics and probiotics. The review suggests they can increase beneficial bacteria and reduce body fat, though results depend on the specific strain and duration of use.

GoodSupportsMEDIUM confidence
Prebiotics had a bifidogenic effect and increased butyrate producers, likely due to cross-feeding interactions, contributing to the gut barrier and improving metabolic outcomes. Probiotics... tended to reduce body fat.
Fernanda Braga Seganfredo et al. · Obesity Reviews · 2017

Why this rating

Based on systematic review of 15 microbiota manipulation studies, though effects vary by strain and duration.

Source

Weight‐loss interventions and gut microbiota changes in overweight and obese patients: a systematic review

Fernanda Braga Seganfredo et al. · Obesity Reviews · 2017

DOI 10.1111/obr.12541

systematic_reviewCited 227×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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