Lactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus amylovorus as probiotics alter body adiposity and gut microflora in healthy persons

Modification of gut microflora has been reported as altering energy and lipid homeostasis, leading to changes in body composition. We evaluated whether consumption of Lactobacillus amylovorus (LA) and Lactobacillus fermentum (LF) as novel probiotics alters body adiposity through modification of gut microflora. Healthy, but overweight participants (n = 28) consumed yogurt containing 1.39 x 10(9) colony-forming unit (CPU) microencapsulated LA, 1.08 x 10(9) CFU microencapsulated LF, or a control yogurt using a randomized, double-blind crossover design. Body composition measurements showed that body fat mass was reduced in all treatments, with the greatest reduction from LA consumption. Bacterial distribution of gut microflora determined a significant reduction in the abundance of Clostridial cluster IV from LA consumption and significant increases in the abundance of Lactobacillus in both LF and LA treatments. The results suggest that modulation of gut microbial composition from probiotic consumption may contribute to altered energy metabolism and body composition. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.