More Evidence of Probiotics Role in Weight Management

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that live in our digestive tracts. Probiotic supplements have been popular for decades, and probiotic-containing foods, such as yogurt, kefir and probiotic milk, have been around for centuries. Over the last 5 to 10 years, research on probiotics has increased significantly.

In March, we reported on two new studies that linked levels of beneficial bacteria to weight and diabetes management. Now a new, unrelated study has found a link between intestinal microflora (microbes) and weight gain during pregnancy.¹

This study has found that women who gain excessive weight gain during pregnancy have a different intestinal microflora composition with higher levels of pathogenic microflora than other women.

The study looked at the microflora in the digestive tracts of 50 pregnant woman, 34 with normal weight and 16 that were overweight. The researchers found that the overweight women had fewer Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides, two genera of beneficial, gram-positive bacteria, and more Staphylococcus, Enterobacteriaceae and E. coli (potentially harmful bacteria) than normal-weight women.

High levels of the harmful E. coli were associated with excessive weight gain, while the opposite effect was found in women with high levels of the beneficial Bifidobacterium. High levels of E. coli were also associated with elevated total and LDL cholesterol ("bad cholesterol") levels.

The researchers also found that the different bacteria were associated with other health conditions. In particular, high levels of the beneficial Bacteroides were related to increased HDL-cholesterol ("good cholesterol") and folic acid levels, and reduced triglyceride levels. Higher levels of the beneficial Bifidobacterium were also related to increased folic acid levels. Folic Acid is a B vitamin that is particularly important to fetal development, reducing the risk of neural tube defects, and serves numerous other functions.

The researchers found that "gut microbiota composition is related to body weight, weight gain and metabolic biomarkers during pregnancy, which might be of relevance to the management of the health of women and infants." It is too early to begin recommending probiotic supplements to pregnant women, but this research does demonstrate the profound effects these minute organisms have on our bodies.

Learn more about probiotics here, including our Super Lactobacillus 11 Billion CFU Probiotics with FOS and our ExtraFlora™ 50 Billion CFU Probiotics in acid-resistant vegetarian capsules.

1. Santacruz, A., M. C. Collado, et al. "Gut microbiota composition is associated with body weight, weight gain and biochemical parameters in pregnant women." Br J Nutr: 1-10.