Effect of a Probiotic and a Synbiotic on Body Fat Mass, Body Weight and Traits of Metabolic Syndrome in Individuals with Abdominal Overweight: A Human, Double-Blind, Randomised, Controlled Clinical Study

strains K7-Lb1, K8-Lb1 and K11-Lb3 were found to suppress Th1 and Th2 response and to enhance defensin release by enterocytes, respectively. Based on these anti-inflammatory actions, we investigated the effect of these strains on traits of metabolic syndrome, which is driven by low-grade inflammation. In a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial with three parallel arms, 180 individuals with abdominal overweight were administered for 3 months with (1) placebo; (2) probiotic, comprising strains; or (3) synbiotic, comprising the strains + acacia gum (10 g daily). The effects were evaluated using Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance on ranks and post hoc tests (Holm-Sidak and Dunn's tests). The alteration (∆) in body fat mass (kg) (primary parameter) during intervention was significantly ( = 0.039) more pronounced in the Probiotic group (-0.61 ± 1.94; mean ± SD) compared with the Placebo group (+0.13 ± 1.64). Accordingly, differences were found in ∆ body weight ( = 0.012), BMI ( = 0.011), waist circumference ( = 0.03), waist-to-height ratio ( = 0.033), visceral adipose tissue (SAD) ( < 0.001) and liver steatosis grade (LSG) ( < 0.001), as assessed using sonography. In the Synbiotic group, ∆SAD ( = 0.002), ∆LSG ( < 0.001) and ∆constipation score ( = 0.009) were improved compared with Placebo. The probiotic mixture and the synbiotic improved the parameters associated with overweight.