3. Discussion
obesity, overweight, weight loss, pain
OBESITY, INFLAMMATION
The present study aimed to investigate the effect of an eight-week daily supplementation with probiotics (This study sprung out of the idea that a hypothetical remedy for obesity-related ill-health is lowered systemic inflammation. Yet, contrary to our expectations, the treatment did not decrease hs-CRP, but rather led to a slight increase. These findings also seem to conflict with most previous results from similar studies described in the literature. For example, a recent meta-analysis suggests a significant small to medium reduction of CRP after probiotics (−0.43 mg/L) and n-3 FA (−0.17 mg/L) supplementation in middle-aged and older adults [Other factors that may have some bearing on the lack of significant hs-CRP decreases in the current study may be the ineffectiveness of the supplement due to dosage or the inclusion of probiotic strains. In comparison, Rajkumar et al. used a higher dosage and more bacterial strains, such as An additional factor of failure in hs-CRP reduction was the within-person variability from screening to the study start. These findings are consistent with the parallel study with the elderly [Regarding IL-6 and the other evaluated inflammatory markers, the current study showed a potential health benefit by reducing IL-6 levels within the treatment group, albeit modestly, Δ−0.04 ± 0.62. Circulating IL-6 is elevated in individuals with obesity [Moreover, other indicators may suggest some benefits from the combined supplementation in this trial. For example, in improving the FA composition in blood and tissues. The Western diet is characterized by increased n-6 intake and therefore a higher n-6/n-3 ratio, which could be as high as 15:1 or 16:1 [Regarding mobility, obesity is usually associated with reduced mobility. Therefore, an improvement in mobility markers is beneficial. The study showed an improvement in the WOMAC score in the treatment group. This improvement could possibly indicate a subtle anti-inflammatory effect leading to a reduction in pain during certain movements. Results from other studies have shown similar effects after supplementation with n-3 PUFAs [However, many overweight people of all ages have limited mobility. The results of the SST suggest an improvement in mobility after the intervention; however, this is in both groups, which could be due to a ‘learning effect’. Overall, further mobility markers should be investigated in future studies. Although the results have modest effects, an improvement in mobility markers in this population is a particularly valuable effect. An anti-inflammatory effect may be associated with more exercise and, therefore, possible weight loss, leading to less stress on the knees and hips [In terms of gut health benefits, we expected an improvement in intestinal permeability, as n-3 PUFAs, probiotics, and vitamin D have been previously suggested to positively impact intestinal barrier function [To assess compliance, which is yet another important factor to consider in terms of the effectiveness of an intervention, plasma FA and vitamin D levels were measured. The increase in participants’ EPA and DHA levels, as well as n-3 and n-6 levels, confirmed the bioavailability of the supplement and participant compliance. Counterintuitively, the participants in the placebo group also showed increased n-3 levels post-intervention. This could be because all subjects received the same information about the intervention and the benefits of n-3 FAs, which may have led to an unintended change in their diet. The results show, however, that a continuous intake of the n-3 capsules leads to a significant reduction of the n-6/n-3 ratio in the treatment group, and therefore future health benefits, after prolonged intake, could potentially be expected. Regarding the vitamin D level, the general serum level before and after the supplementation was very low; levels greater than 32 ng/mL are recommended [