Discussion
inflammation, weight gain, overweight, overweight or obesity, heredity, weight loss
INFLAMMATION, MINOR
In this study, we assess the impact of the probiotic compound AB001 on weight loss among individuals with overweight. During the initial 3-month double-blinded placebo-controlled phase, no difference in weight was observed between the groups using placebo, single dose, or double dose of the compound. During the second phase, individuals who were administrated a, high dose probiotic, i.e. first double and then triple dose, experienced a statistically significant weight reduction from their baseline of approximately 2 kg.Some probiotic compounds have demonstrated an advantage over placebos in facilitating weight loss among both adult and pediatric populations with excessive weight, suggesting a potential beneficial role of probiotics in weight management strategiesProbiotics, whether residing in the gut or passing through, have diverse effects on the host. They modulate gut functions, bolster immune responses, influence metabolism, and regulate food intake signalsThe aim of the second phase was primarily to evaluate safety and potential side effects. Potential harm of probiotics is rarely discussed, and it is therefore warranted to investigating side effects of probiotic supplementationThe compliance and adherence to the study protocol was very good. The study coordinator had regular contact with the participants via the digital support system and as the weekly weight measurements were automatically transferred to the database. Via the study app reminders could be sent out if data was missing. Together this probably contributed to the low dropout rate.The effect of probiotics on biomarkers have been investigated with mixed findingsThe minor changes in erythrocytes, hemoglobin and hematocrit were only observed among women. Since other biomarkers of diet and inflammation (e.g. lipid profile, vitamins, and CRP) remained normal, it is likely that the observed minor change was due to physiological alterations caused by menstruation.Even though the study was well conducted, there are some limitations that should be acknowledged. We did not collect any objective measures of mediators for weight gain or weight loss, e.g. amount of physical activity or dietary changes. However, we did collect objectively measured weight throughout the study. Further, despite the relatively large sample size, the heterogeneity prevented us from making post-hoc analyses to investigate potential effects in subgroups, e.g. having heredity for overweight or obesity. Moreover, due to the study design allowing participant continuation of probiotics from the initial phase, randomization unblinding took place before data analysis. The robust nature of the exclusion criteria, such as the deliberate exclusion of weight-related comorbidities, might potentially limit the extent to which these findings can be extrapolated to a broader population.