Discover How Lactobacillus Gasseri Can Supercharge Your Weight Loss Journey!

Obesity, driven by factors like high-fat diets and low energy expenditure, is a major health concern linked to metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. While various treatments exist, including drugs and surgery, safety issues often arise. Probiotics, particularly Lactobacilli, have emerged as potential allies in managing obesity, offering benefits like immune system modulation and improved intestinal function. Among these, Lactobacillus gasseri has garnered attention for its potential anti-obesity effects.

What is Lactobacillus Gasseri?

Lactobacillus gasseri is a probiotic strain naturally found in the human body, including breast milk. It's known for its potential to promote gut health and has been investigated for various health benefits beyond digestion.

The Science Behind L. gasseri and Weight Loss

Several studies have explored the impact of L. gasseri on weight management, with promising results.

Animal Studies: Unveiling the Mechanisms

Research on mice has provided valuable insights into how L. gasseri might influence weight.

Reduced Body Weight and Fat Mass: Studies involving mice fed high-sucrose diets demonstrated that L. gasseri BNR17 supplementation significantly reduced body weight gain and white adipose tissue weight, regardless of the dosage. Specifically, the administration of L. gasseri BNR17 significantly reduced the body weight and white adipose tissue weight regardless of the dose administered.
Impact on Gene Expression: L. gasseri appears to influence the expression of genes related to fat metabolism. In BNR17-fed groups, mRNA levels of fatty acid oxidation-related genes (ACO, CPT1, PPARα, PPARδ) were significantly higher and those of fatty acid synthesis-related genes (SREBP-1c, ACC) were lower compared to the high-sucrose-diet group.
Improved Glucose Metabolism: The expression of GLUT4, a key glucose transporter, was elevated in BNR17-fed groups, suggesting improved glucose utilization.
Hormonal Regulation: L. gasseri BNR17 also reduced the levels of leptin and insulin in serum.
The BNR17 strain: We have observed the effects of L. gasseri BNR17, a probiotic strain isolated from human breast milk, on the high-sucrose diet-fed SD rat and transgenic db/db mouse, suppressing the body weight and fat weight gain, fasting and postprandial blood glucose, and improved oral glucose tolerance.

These findings suggest that L. gasseri's anti-obesity effects may stem from enhanced fatty acid oxidation, reduced fat storage, and improved glucose metabolism. Total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in the HSD group and HSD+BNR17 groups increased compared to the ND group; however, no significant reduction was caused by BNR17 administration, and glucose levels did not change with BNR17 administration.

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Human Studies: Translating Animal Findings

While animal studies provide a foundation, human trials are crucial to confirm the effects of L. gasseri on weight loss.

Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials: Researchers have found that Lactobacillus gasseri shows promising effects on weight loss in humans. The meta study found that Lactobacillus gasseri decreased body weight, BMI, waist circumference, body fat mass or fat percentage in those with overweight or obesity. It also decreased visceral fat. What’s more, it still showed weight loss effects even when the participants did not undergo energy restriction. However, more research is needed.
Specific Strain Effects: In one study, consuming products with Lactobacillus curvatus and Lactobacillus plantarum displayed a reduction in body weight, visceral fat mass, and waist circumference.
Impact on Body Fat: In another study, 114 adults with obesity were given either the probiotic Lactobacillus sakei or a placebo for 12 weeks. Those taking the probiotic experienced significant decreases in both body fat mass and waist circumference.

These studies indicate that L. gasseri supplementation may contribute to weight loss, particularly in reducing abdominal fat.

How L. gasseri Might Promote Weight Loss: Potential Mechanisms

The exact mechanisms by which L. gasseri exerts its effects are still under investigation, but several possibilities have been proposed:

Modulation of Gut Microbiota: L. gasseri can influence the balance of bacteria in the gut, potentially favoring a profile associated with leanness.
- There are two main families of good bacteria in the gut: bacteroidetes and firmicutes. Research has found that body weight seems to be related to the balance of these two families of bacteria.
- One 2021 review of several studies found that moderate-weight people have different gut bacteria than those with overweight or obesity, but more research is needed.
- In the some of those studies, people with obesity had more firmicutes and fewer bacteroidetes, compared with moderate-weight people. The review found that people with obesity tend to have less diverse gut bacteria than lean people.
Short-Chain Fatty Acid Production: Probiotics like L. gasseri can produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like acetate, propionate, and butyrate, which may influence appetite and energy expenditure. According to research, probiotics seem to influence appetite and energy usage via the production of acetate, propionate, and butyrate, which are short-chain fatty acids.
Reduced Fat Absorption: Some probiotics may inhibit the absorption of dietary fat, leading to increased fat excretion. Studies have found that certain probiotics may inhibit the absorption of dietary fat, decreasing inflammation and increasing the amount of fat excreted with feces. In other words, they make your body “harvest” fewer calories from the foods you eat. Certain bacteria, such as those from the Lactobacillus family, have been found to function in this way.
Hormonal Regulation: L. gasseri may influence the release of appetite-regulating hormones like GLP-1 and PYY, potentially promoting satiety and reducing food intake. According to research, probiotics may help release the appetite-reducing hormones glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and peptide YY (PYY). Increased levels of these hormones may help you burn calories and fat.
Increased ANGPTL4 Levels: Probiotics may increase levels of the protein angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4). This may lead to decreased fat storage.

Considerations and Future Directions

While the evidence for L. gasseri's potential role in weight management is encouraging, it's important to consider the following:

Strain Specificity: The effects of probiotics are strain-specific. Not all L. gasseri strains will have the same impact on weight.
Dosage and Duration: Optimal dosages and treatment durations need further investigation.
Individual Variability: Responses to probiotics can vary depending on individual factors like genetics, diet, and gut microbiota composition.
Study Limitations: It's essential to acknowledge the limitations of existing studies, such as small sample sizes and varying methodologies.

Other Potential Benefits of Probiotics

Beyond weight management, probiotics offer a range of potential health benefits:

Improved Digestive Health: Probiotics can help alleviate symptoms of digestive disorders like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Enhanced Immune Function: Probiotics can modulate the immune system, potentially reducing the risk of infections.
Heart Health: Some probiotics may help lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure, contributing to heart health.
Mental Health: Emerging research suggests a link between gut health and mental health, with probiotics potentially playing a role in reducing anxiety and depression.

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