Healthy Living
It is common knowledge that probiotics can improve intestinal health, but did you know that probiotics can benefit our bodies in many other ways? Our gut microbiome is composed of trillions of microorganisms, and a healthy gut microbiome is essential to our overall health. Probiotics can help to restore an unhealthy gut microbiome, and that in turn can help a multitude of illnesses from poor immune health to nervous system dysfunction. But can probiotics really help you lose weight?
Recent studies have shown that our gut microbiome can play a significant role in body weight regulation. A 2021 review of several studies found that moderate-weight people tend to have different gut bacteria than those who are overweight. In addition, the review also found that moderate-weight people tend to have a more diverse population of microorganisms as part of their gut microbiome. Thankfully, probiotics can be used to help modify and diversify our gut microbiome. Probiotics also appear to affect our body weight in many other ways. Research has shown that probiotics can influence our appetite and energy levels through the production of short-chain fatty acids. Certain bacteria in the Lactobacillus family have been shown to inhibit the absorption of dietary fat, and therefore reduce the amount of calories your body harvests from the food you eat. Certain probiotics have also been shown to increase the release of appetite-regulating hormones and other hormones that may lead to decreased fat storage.
A particular probiotic, Akkermansia muciniphila, is showing promise as a next-generation probiotic for the use of weight management and metabolic disorders. Akkermansia is a bacteria that is found naturally in our bodies. It usually colonizes our gut early in life, and it comprises approximately 3% of the gut microbiome in healthy adults. Studies have shown that we see an increase in obesity and diabetes when adults have reduced levels of Akkermansia in their gut microbiome. We don’t fully understand how Akkermansia is helping to regulate obesity, but it has been shown to increase thermogenesis, increase secretion of GLP-1, and reduce carbohydrate absorption. One study showed that obese patients who supplemented with Akkermansia for 3 months saw a reduction in weight, fat mass, hip circumference, insulin resistance, plasma cholesterol levels, the markers of liver dysfunction, and systemic inflammation.
There are many nutritional supplements that can help with weight management, and probiotics can certainly play a role in helping to maintain a healthy weight. Probiotics can also provide a multitude of health benefits in addition to healthy weight management. If you are interested in using probiotics as part of your nutritional supplement regimen, be sure to speak to a healthcare provider to ensure they are right for you.
-Joseph Feick, Pharm.D.
Owner, Double Oak Mountain Pharmacy
205-991-0800
