{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,23]],"date-time":"2026-10-23T21:12:12Z","timestamp":1792789932786,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":59,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"13","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,7,5]],"date-time":"2023-07-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1688515200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Slimbiotics GmbH"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nutrients"],"abstract":"<jats:p>L. fermentum 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 L. fermentum strains; or (3) synbiotic, comprising the strains + acacia gum (10 g daily). The effects were evaluated using Kruskal\u2013Wallis one-way analysis of variance on ranks and post hoc tests (Holm\u2013Sidak and Dunn\u2019s tests). The alteration (\u2206) in body fat mass (kg) (primary parameter) during intervention was significantly (p = 0.039) more pronounced in the Probiotic group (\u22120.61 \u00b1 1.94; mean \u00b1 SD) compared with the Placebo group (+0.13 \u00b1 1.64). Accordingly, differences were found in \u2206 body weight (p = 0.012), BMI (p = 0.011), waist circumference (p = 0.03), waist-to-height ratio (p = 0.033), visceral adipose tissue (SAD) (p &lt; 0.001) and liver steatosis grade (LSG) (p &lt; 0.001), as assessed using sonography. In the Synbiotic group, \u2206SAD (p = 0.002), \u2206LSG (p &lt; 0.001) and \u2206constipation score (p = 0.009) were improved compared with Placebo. The probiotic mixture and the synbiotic improved the parameters associated with overweight.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nu15133039","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,7,6]],"date-time":"2023-07-06T00:41:27Z","timestamp":1688604087000},"page":"3039","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":37,"title":["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"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"Christiane","family":"Laue","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Research Center Kiel, Kiel Center of Innovation and Technology, Schauenburgstra\u00dfe 116, D-24118 Kiel, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ekaterina","family":"Papazova","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Research Center Kiel, Kiel Center of Innovation and Technology, Schauenburgstra\u00dfe 116, D-24118 Kiel, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Angelika","family":"Pannenbeckers","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Research Center Kiel, Kiel Center of Innovation and Technology, Schauenburgstra\u00dfe 116, D-24118 Kiel, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"J\u00fcrgen","family":"Schrezenmeir","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Research Center Kiel, Kiel Center of Innovation and Technology, Schauenburgstra\u00dfe 116, D-24118 Kiel, Germany"},{"name":"University Medicine, Johannes-Gutenberg University, D-55131 Mainz, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,7,5]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105","DOI":"10.1126\/science.1208344","article-title":"Linking Long-Term Dietary Patterns with Gut Microbial Enterotypes","volume":"334","author":"Wu","year":"2011","journal-title":"Science"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.1038\/nature11450","article-title":"A metagenome-wide association study of gut microbiota in type 2 diabetes","volume":"490","author":"Qin","year":"2012","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"541","DOI":"10.1038\/nature12506","article-title":"Richness of human gut microbiome correlates with metabolic markers","volume":"500","author":"Nielsen","year":"2013","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"585","DOI":"10.1038\/nature12480","article-title":"Dietary intervention impact on gut microbial gene richness","volume":"500","author":"Cotillard","year":"2013","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"560","DOI":"10.1126\/science.aad3503","article-title":"Population-level analysis of gut microbiome variation","volume":"352","author":"Falony","year":"2016","journal-title":"Science"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"73","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bpg.2013.03.007","article-title":"Diabetes, obesity and gut microbiota","volume":"27","author":"Everard","year":"2013","journal-title":"Best Pract. Res. Clin. Gastroenterol."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1018","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2018.01.288","article-title":"The impact of human activities and lifestyles on the interlinked microbiota and health of humans and of ecosystems","volume":"627","author":"Flandroy","year":"2018","journal-title":"Sci. Total Environ."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6911","DOI":"10.3748\/wjg.v19.i40.6911","article-title":"Effects of probiotics on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A meta-analysis","volume":"19","author":"Ma","year":"2013","journal-title":"World J. Gastroenterol."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"430","DOI":"10.3109\/07853890.2015.1071872","article-title":"Effects of probiotics consumption on lowering lipids and CVD risk factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials","volume":"47","author":"Sun","year":"2015","journal-title":"Ann. Med."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ruan, Y., Sun, J., He, J., Chen, F., Chen, R., and Chen, H. (2015). Effect of Probiotics on Glycemic Control: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized, Controlled Trials. PLoS ONE, 10.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0132121"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"571","DOI":"10.1080\/09637486.2016.1181156","article-title":"Effect of probiotics on body weight and body-mass index: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials","volume":"67","author":"Zhang","year":"2016","journal-title":"Int. J. Food Sci. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"28","DOI":"10.1016\/j.medici.2015.11.008","article-title":"Effect of probiotics on glucose metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials","volume":"52","author":"Zhang","year":"2016","journal-title":"Medicina"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"362","DOI":"10.1016\/j.medcli.2016.11.036","article-title":"Effects of probiotics supplement in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A meta-analysis of randomized trials","volume":"148","author":"Hu","year":"2017","journal-title":"Med. Cl\u00ednica"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e017995","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2017-017995","article-title":"Impact of bacterial probiotics on obesity, diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease related variables: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials","volume":"9","author":"Koutnikova","year":"2019","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1484598","DOI":"10.1155\/2019\/1484598","article-title":"Systematic review with meta-analysis: The effects of probiotics in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease","volume":"2019","author":"Xiao","year":"2019","journal-title":"Gastroenterol. Res. Pract."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Perna, S., Ilyas, Z., Giacosa, A., Gasparri, C., Peroni, G., Faliva, M.A., Rigon, C., Naso, M., Riva, A., and Petrangolini, G. (2021). Is Probiotic supplementation useful for the management of body weight and other anthropometric measures in adults affected by overweight and obesity with metabolic related diseases? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrients, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/nu13020666"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"243","DOI":"10.3920\/BM2010.0019","article-title":"Identification and characterization of lactobacilli isolated from Kimere, a spontaneously fermented pearl millet dough from Mbeere, Kenya (East Africa)","volume":"1","author":"Njeru","year":"2010","journal-title":"Benef. Microbes"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"677","DOI":"10.1016\/j.imbio.2008.02.001","article-title":"Effects of probiotic bacteria and their genomic DNA on TH1\/TH2-cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of healthy and allergic subjects","volume":"213","author":"Ghadimi","year":"2008","journal-title":"Immunobiology"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1533","DOI":"10.1002\/mnfr.201100052","article-title":"Suppression subtractive hybridization identifies bacterial genomic regions that are possibly involved in hBD-2 regulation by enterocytes","volume":"55","author":"Ghadimi","year":"2011","journal-title":"Mol. Nutr. Food Res."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"208","DOI":"10.1016\/j.imbio.2013.10.005","article-title":"Molecular identification of potential Th1\/Th2 responses-modulating bacterial genes using suppression subtractive DNA hybridization","volume":"219","author":"Ghadimi","year":"2014","journal-title":"Immunobiology"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"47","DOI":"10.3389\/fmicb.2016.00047","article-title":"Ethanol Production by selected intestinal microorganisms and lactic acid bacteria growing under different nutritional conditions","volume":"7","author":"Elshaghabee","year":"2016","journal-title":"Front. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1553","DOI":"10.1007\/s10311-019-00896-8","article-title":"Probiotics for dietary management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease","volume":"17","author":"Elshaghabee","year":"2019","journal-title":"Environ. Chem. Lett."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1882","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.1402300","article-title":"Porcine \u00df-defensin 2 attenuates inflammation and mucosal lesions in dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis","volume":"194","author":"Han","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Immunol."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"93","DOI":"10.2147\/HMER.S254195","article-title":"Effect of oral administration of Weissella confusa on fecal and plasma ethanol concentrations, lipids and glucose metabolism in Wistar rats fed high fructose and fat diet","volume":"12","author":"Elshaghabee","year":"2020","journal-title":"Hepatic Med. Evid. Res."},{"key":"ref_25","first-page":"43","article-title":"Acacia gum is a bifidogenic dietary fibre with high digestive tolerance in healthy humans","volume":"15","author":"Cherbut","year":"2003","journal-title":"Microb. Ecol. Health Dis."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1269","DOI":"10.1017\/S0007114508981447","article-title":"Gum arabic establishes prebiotic functionality in healthy human volunteers in a dose-dependent manner","volume":"100","author":"Calame","year":"2008","journal-title":"Br. J. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_27","first-page":"361S","article-title":"Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics\u2014Approaching a definition","volume":"73","author":"Schrezenmeir","year":"2001","journal-title":"AJCN"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1147","DOI":"10.1017\/S0007114513003607","article-title":"Metabolic benefits of dietary prebiotics in human subjects: A systematic review of randomised controlled trials","volume":"11","author":"Kellow","year":"2014","journal-title":"Br. J. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"845","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clnu.2014.10.004","article-title":"A systematic review and meta-analysis of the prebiotics and synbiotics effects on glycaemia, insulin concentrations and lipid parameters in adult patients with overweight or obesity","volume":"34","author":"Beserra","year":"2015","journal-title":"Clin. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1604","DOI":"10.3945\/ajcn.115.106989","article-title":"Psyllium fiber improves glycemic control proportional to loss of glycemic control: A meta-analysis of data in euglycemic subjects, patients at risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus, and patients being treated 1 for type 2 diabetes mellitus","volume":"102","author":"Gibb","year":"2015","journal-title":"Am. J. Clin. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.1038\/ejcn.2016.156","article-title":"Effect of inulin-type fructans on blood lipid profile and glucose level: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials","volume":"71","author":"Liu","year":"2017","journal-title":"Eur. J. Clin. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1514","DOI":"10.3945\/ajcn.117.163246","article-title":"Effects of isolated soluble fiber supplementation on body weight, glycemia, and insulinemia in adults with overweight and obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials","volume":"106","author":"Thompson","year":"2017","journal-title":"Am. J. Clin. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"822","DOI":"10.1093\/nutrit\/nuy031","article-title":"Prebiotic and probiotic treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"76","author":"Loman","year":"2018","journal-title":"Nutr. Rev."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"111","DOI":"10.1186\/1475-2891-11-111","article-title":"Effects of gum Arabic ingestion on body mass index and body fat percentage in healthy adult females: Two-arm randomized, placebo controlled, double-blind trial","volume":"11","author":"Babiker","year":"2012","journal-title":"Nutr. J."},{"key":"ref_35","first-page":"219","article-title":"Metabolic effects of Gum Arabic (Acacia Senegal) in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM): Randomized, placebo controlled double blind trial","volume":"7","author":"Babiker","year":"2017","journal-title":"Funct. Foods Health Dis."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"56","DOI":"10.1186\/s12944-018-0711-y","article-title":"Effect of Gum Arabic (Acacia Senegal) supplementation on visceral adiposity index (VAI) and blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus as indicators of cardiovascular disease (CVD): A randomized and placebo-controlled clinical trial","volume":"17","author":"Babiker","year":"2018","journal-title":"Lipids Health Dis."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"203","DOI":"10.1159\/000276554","article-title":"Downregulation of Mouse Intestinal Na-coupled Glucose Transporter SGLT1 by Gum Arabic (Acacia Senegal), Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"25","author":"Nasir","year":"2010","journal-title":"Cell. Physiol. Biochem."},{"key":"ref_38","first-page":"34","article-title":"Effect of Gum Arabic (Acacia Senegal) on Glucose Metabolism and Body Weight Gain in Mice","volume":"4","author":"Nasir","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Biol. Agric. Healthc."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) (2012). Guidance on the scientific requirements for health claims related to appetite ratings, weight management, and blood glucose concentrations. EFSA J., 10, 2604.","DOI":"10.2903\/j.efsa.2012.2604"},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) (2011). Guidance on the scientific requirements for health claims related to antioxidants, oxidative damage and cardiovascular health. EFSA J., 9, 2474.","DOI":"10.2903\/j.efsa.2011.2474"},{"key":"ref_41","unstructured":"EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) (2018). Guidance on the characterisation of microorganisms used as feed additives or as production organisms. EFSA J., 16, 5206."},{"key":"ref_42","unstructured":"(2010). Milk and Milk Products\u2014Determination of the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of Antibiotics Applicable to Bifidobacteria and Non-Enterococcal Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) (Standard No. IDF 223:2010, ISO 10932 I: 2010)."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"920","DOI":"10.2337\/dc09-1825","article-title":"for the ALKAMESY STUDY GROUP. A reliable indicator of visceral fat function associated with cardiometabolic risk","volume":"33","author":"Amato","year":"2010","journal-title":"Diabetes Care"},{"key":"ref_44","unstructured":"WHO (2008). Waist Circumference and Waist\u2013Hip Ratio: Report of a WHO Expert Consultation, WHO."},{"key":"ref_45","first-page":"847","article-title":"Sonography detection of small intra-abdominal fat variations","volume":"15","author":"Armellini","year":"1991","journal-title":"Int. J. Obes."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.292.6512.13","article-title":"Ultrasound scanning in the detection of hepatic fibrosis and steatosis","volume":"292","author":"Saverymuttu","year":"1986","journal-title":"Brit. Med. J."},{"key":"ref_47","first-page":"1","article-title":"Evaluation of ascites and its etiology using ultrasonography","volume":"3","author":"Alnumeiri","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Res. Dev."},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"129","DOI":"10.1007\/BF01535722","article-title":"GSRS\u2014A clinical rating scale for gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome and peptic ulcer disease","volume":"33","author":"Svedlund","year":"1988","journal-title":"Dig. Dis. Sci."},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1046","DOI":"10.3109\/00365529509101605","article-title":"Well-Being and Gastrointestinal Symptoms among Patients Referred to Endoscopy Owing to Suspected Duodenal Ulcer","volume":"30","author":"Glise","year":"1995","journal-title":"Scand. J. Gastroenterol."},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"75","DOI":"10.1023\/A:1008841022998","article-title":"Reliability and validity of the gastrointestinal symptom rating scale in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease","volume":"7","author":"Revicki","year":"1998","journal-title":"Qual. Life Res."},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"67","DOI":"10.1097\/00005650-198601000-00007","article-title":"Concurrent and predictive validity of a self-reported measure of medication adherence","volume":"24","author":"Morisky","year":"1986","journal-title":"Med. Care"},{"key":"ref_52","first-page":"469","article-title":"Metabolic syndrome\u2014A new world-wide definition","volume":"23","author":"Alberti","year":"2006","journal-title":"Consens. Statement Int. Diabetes Federation. Diabet. Med."},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.2337\/dc06-1414","article-title":"The National Cholesterol Education Program\u2014Adult Treatment Panel III, International Diabetes Federation, and World Health Organization definitions of the metabolic syndrome as predictors of incident cardiovascular disease and diabetes","volume":"30","author":"Lorenzo","year":"2007","journal-title":"Diabetes Care"},{"key":"ref_54","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"259","DOI":"10.37349\/emed.2020.00018","article-title":"The diagnostic conundrum in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease","volume":"1","author":"Rosato","year":"2020","journal-title":"Explor Med."},{"key":"ref_55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"408","DOI":"10.5152\/tjg.2015.6336","article-title":"The development of a clinical score for the prediction of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease using routine parameters","volume":"26","author":"Li","year":"2015","journal-title":"Turk. J. Gastroenterol."},{"key":"ref_56","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pizarroso, N.A., Fuci\u00f1os, P., Gon\u00e7alves, C., Pastrana, L., and Amado, I.R. (2021). A review on the role of food-derived bioactive molecules and the microbiota-gut-brain axis in satiety regulation. Nutrients, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/nu13020632"},{"key":"ref_57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"25088","DOI":"10.1074\/jbc.M113.452516","article-title":"Beneficial metabolic effects of a probiotic via butyrate-induced GLP-1 hormone secretion","volume":"288","author":"Yadav","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Biol. Chem."},{"key":"ref_58","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1073","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cmet.2021.05.004","article-title":"A newly identified protein from Akkermansia muciniphila stimulates GLP-1 secretion","volume":"33","author":"Cani","year":"2021","journal-title":"Cell Metab."},{"key":"ref_59","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"D\u00e9chelotte, P., Breton, J., Trotin-Picolo, C., Grube, B., Erlenbeck, C., Bothe, G., Fetissov, S.O., and Lambert, G. (2021). The probiotic strain H. alvei HA4597\u00ae improves weight loss in overweight subjects under moderate hypocaloric diet: A proof-of-concept, multicenter randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study. Nutrients, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/nu13061902"}],"container-title":["Nutrients"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2072-6643\/15\/13\/3039\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T20:06:31Z","timestamp":1760126791000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2072-6643\/15\/13\/3039"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,7,5]]},"references-count":59,"journal-issue":{"issue":"13","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,7]]}},"alternative-id":["nu15133039"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/nu15133039","relation":{},"ISSN":["2072-6643"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2072-6643","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,7,5]]}}}