Heat-killed Akkermansia muciniphila ameliorates allergic airway inflammation in mice.

Allergic asthma (AA) is a common inflammatory airway disease characterized by increased airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR), inflammation, and remodeling. Akkermansia muciniphila is a strictly anaerobic bacterium residing in the gut and is a promising next-generation probiotic to improve metabolic inflammatory syndrome. A recent study suggested the beneficial effect of live A. muciniphila on allergic airway inflammation (AAI) in mice. However, whether the heat-killed form can improve AAI requires further investigation. Mice sensitized and challenged with house dust mites (HDM) develop AA hallmarks including inflammatory cell infiltration, goblet cell hyperplasia, and subepithelial collagen deposition in the lungs. These phenomena were reversed by oral administration of the heat-killed A. muciniphila strain EB-AMDK19 (AMDK19-HK) isolated from the feces of healthy Koreans. Furthermore, AMDK19-HK diminished the HDM-induced AHR to inhaled methacholine, lung mast cell accumulation, and serum HDM-specific IgE levels. It also led to the overall suppression of IL-4, IL-13, and eotaxin production in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids, and Il4, Il5, Il13, and Ccl17 gene expression in lung tissues. Moreover, AMDK19-HK suppressed Th2-associated cytokine production in the splenocytes of HDM-sensitized mice in vitro. Additionally, a combination of 16S rRNA gene sequencing and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) analysis in cecal samples revealed that AMDK19-HK modulated the relative abundance of circulating SCFA-associated gut genera, including a positive correlation with Lachnospiraceae_ NK4A136_group and a negative correlation with Lachnoclostridium and significantly increased cecal SCFA concentrations. Finally, AMDK19-HK improved intestinal mucosal barrier function. These results suggest that the oral administration of AMDK19-HK ameliorates HDM-induced AAI in mice by suppressing Th2-mediated immune responses and could have a protective effect against AA development.

Akkermansia muciniphila promotes testosterone-mediated hair growth inhibition in mice.

The beneficial effects of Akkermansia muciniphila (Akk) on gut health and inflammation reduction have been demonstrated; however, scientific evidence of hair growth enhancement by Akk has not been reported. Therefore, this study was undertaken to investigate the effect of Akk on improving testosterone-mediated hair growth inhibition. Hair growth inhibition was induced through subcutaneous injection of testosterone into the shaved dorsal skin of C57BL/6 male mice. Live and pasteurized Akk were orally administered at a concentration of 1 × 108 colony-forming unit. After 5 weeks, hair length and skin tissues were analyzed. The live and pasteurized Akk significantly stimulated hair growth, countering the inhibitory effect of testosterone compared to the testosterone-alone group. Hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed a significant increase in hair follicle size in the Akk-treated group. An increase in ß-catenin levels, which are associated with hair growth and cell cycle progression, was also observed. Moreover, the Akk-treated group exhibited increased levels of fibroblast growth factors, including Fgf7, Igf1, Fgf7, Fgf10, and Fgf21. However, no significant difference was observed between the live and pasteurized Akk groups. These results underscore the potential of live and pasteurized Akk in improving testosterone-mediated hair growth inhibition.

Pharmaceutical efficacy of novel human-origin Faecalibacterium prausnitzii strains on high-fat-diet-induced obesity and associated metabolic disorders in mice.

Introduction: Obesity and related metabolic issues are a growing global health concern. Recently, the discovery of new probiotics with anti-obesity properties has gained interest. Methods: In this study, four Faecalibacte-rium prausnitzii strains were isolated from healthy human feces and evaluated on a high-fat diet-induced mouse model for 12 weeks. Results: The F. prausnitzii strains reduced body weight gain, liver and fat weights, and calorie intake while improving lipid and glucose metabolism in the liver and adipose tissue, as evidenced by regulating lipid metabolism-associated gene expression, including ACC1, FAS, SREBP1c, leptin, and adiponectin. Moreover, the F. prausnitzii strains inhibited low-grade inflammation, restored gut integrity, and ameliorated hepatic function and insulin resistance. Interestingly, the F. prausnitzii strains modulated gut and neural hormone secretion and reduced appetite by affecting the gut-brain axis. Supplementation with F. prausnitzii strains noticeably changed the gut microbiota composition. Discussion: In summary, the novel isolated F. prausnitzii strains have therapeutic effects on obesity and associated metabolic disorders through modulation of the gut-brain axis. Additionally, the effectiveness of different strains might not be achieved through identical mechanisms. Therefore, the present findings provide a reliable clue for developing novel therapeutic probiotics against obesity and associated metabolic disorders.

Faecalibacterium prausnitzii prevents hepatic damage in a mouse model of NASH induced by a high-fructose high-fat diet.

Introduction: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an advanced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease characterized by chronic inflammation and fibrosis. A dysbiosis of the gut microbiota has been associated with the pathophysiology of NASH, and probiotics have proven helpful in its treatment and prevention. Although both traditional and next-generation probiotics have the potential to alleviate various diseases, studies that observe the therapeutic effect of next-generation probiotics on NASH are lacking. Therefore, we investigated whether a next-generation probiotic candidate, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, contributed to the mitigation of NASH. Methods: In this study, we conducted 16S rRNA sequencing analyses in patients with NASH and healthy controls. To test F. prausnitzii could alleviate NASH symptoms, we isolated four F. prausnitzii strains (EB-FPDK3, EB-FPDK9, EB-FPDK11, and EB-FPYYK1) from fecal samples collected from four healthy individuals. Mice were maintained on a high-fructose high-fat diet for 16 weeks to induce a NASH model and received oral administration of the bacterial strains. Changes in characteristic NASH phenotypes were assessed via oral glucose tolerance tests, biochemical assays, and histological analyses. Results: 16S rRNA sequencing analyses confirmed that the relative abundance of F. prausnitzii reduced significantly in patients with NASH compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05). In the NASH mice, F. prausnitzii supplementation improved glucose homeostasis, prevented hepatic lipid accumulation, curbed liver damage and fibrosis, restored damaged gut barrier functions, and alleviated hepatic steatosis and liver inflammation. Furthermore, real-time PCR assays documented that the four F. prausnitzii strains regulated the expression of genes related to hepatic steatosis in these mice. Discussion: Our study, therefore, confirms that the administration of F. prausnitzii bacteria can alleviate NASH symptoms. We propose that F. prausnitzii has the potential to contribute to the next-generation probiotic treatment of NASH.

New Strains of Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii are Effective for Improving the Muscle Strength of Mice with Immobilization-Induced Muscular Atrophy.

Muscular atrophy is a muscle disease in which muscle mass and strength decrease due to aging, injury, metabolic disorders, or chronic conditions. Proteins in muscle tissue are degraded by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, and atrophy accelerates this pathway. Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii strains are effective agents against metabolic and inflammatory diseases in next-generation probiotic research. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of A. muciniphila strain EB-AMDK19 and F. prausnitzii strain EB-FPDK11 in a mouse model of muscular atrophy, since atrophy inhibits energy metabolism and immune activation. After oral administration of each strain for 4 weeks, the hind legs of the mice were fixed with a plaster cast to immobilize them for a week. As a result, the administration of EB-AMDK19 and EB-FPDK11 strains improved grip strength but did not increase muscle mass. At the molecular level, A. muciniphila and F. prausnitzii treatments decreased the expression levels of ubiquitin-proteasome genes, atrogin-1, MuRF, and cathepsin L. They increased the expression level of the mitochondrial biogenesis regulatory gene, PGC-1α. The effect of the strains was confirmed by a decrease in myostatin. Furthermore, A. muciniphila and F. prausnitzii modulated the immune function by enhancing ZO-1 and inhibiting IL-6. In particular, EB-AMDK19 promoted the expression of IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine. These results suggest that A. muciniphila and F. prausnitzii may have beneficial effects on muscular atrophy, verified by newly isolated EB-AMDK19 and EB-FPDK11 as potential next-generation probiotics.

Oral administration of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Akkermansia muciniphila strains from humans improves atopic dermatitis symptoms in DNCB induced NC/Nga mice.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease, and its pathogenesis is closely associated with microbial homeostasis in the gut, namely the gut-skin axis. Particularly, recent metagenomics studies revealed that the abundance of two major bacterial species in the gut, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Akkermansia muciniphila, may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of AD, but the effect of these species in AD has not yet been elucidated. To evaluate the potential beneficial effect of F. prausnitzii or A. muciniphila in AD, we conducted an animal model study where F. prausnitzii EB-FPDK11 or A. muciniphila EB-AMDK19, isolated from humans, was orally administered to 2,5-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD models using NC/Nga mice at a daily dose of 108 CFUs/mouse for six weeks. As a result, the administration of each strain of F. prausnitzii and A. muciniphila improved AD-related markers, such as dermatitis score, scratching behavior, and serum immunoglobulin E level. Also, the F. prausnitzii and A. muciniphila treatments decreased the level of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), triggering the production of T helper (Th) 2 cytokines, and improved the imbalance between the Th1 and Th2 immune responses induced by DNCB. Meanwhile, the oral administration of the bacteria enhanced the production of filaggrin in the skin and ZO-1 in the gut barrier, leading to the recovery of functions. Taken together, our findings suggest that F. prausnitzii EB-FPDK11 and A. muciniphila EB-AMDK19 have a therapeutic potential in AD, which should be verified in humans.

Effects of Live and Pasteurized Forms of Akkermansia from the Human Gut on Obesity and Metabolic Dysregulation.

Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) is a promising probiotic candidate owing to its health-promoting properties. A previous study reported that the pasteurized form of A. muciniphila strains isolated from human stool samples had a beneficial impact on high-fat diet-induced obese mice. On the other hand, the differences in the probiotic effects between live and pasteurized A. muciniphila on the metabolism and immune system of the host are still inconclusive. This study examines the differences between the live and pasteurized forms of A. muciniphila strains on the lipid and glucose metabolism and on regulating the inflammatory immune responses using a HFD-fed obese mouse model. The animals were administered the live and pasteurized forms of two A. muciniphila strains five times per week for the entire study period of 12 weeks. Both forms of the bacterial strains improved the HFD-induced obesity and metabolic dysregulation in the mice by preventing body-weight gains after one week. In addition, they cause a decrease in the weights of the major adipose tissues, adipogenesis/lipogenesis and serum TC levels, improvement in glucose homeostasis and suppression of inflammatory insults. Furthermore, these treatments restored the damaged gut architecture and integrity and improved the hepatic structure and function in HFD-induced animals. On the other hand, for both bacterial strains, the pasteurized form was more potent in improving glucose tolerance than the live form. Moreover, specific A. muciniphila preparations with either live or pasteurized bacteria decreased the number and population (%) of splenic Treg cells (CD4+ Foxp3+) significantly in the HFD-fed animals, further supporting the anti-inflammatory properties of these bacteria.

Beneficial Effects of Newly Isolated Akkermansia muciniphila Strains from the Human Gut on Obesity and Metabolic Dysregulation.

The identification of new probiotics with anti-obesity properties has attracted considerable interest. In the present study, the anti-obesity activities of Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) strains isolated from human stool samples and their relationship with the gut microbiota were evaluated using a high fat-diet (HFD)-fed mice model. Three strains of A. muciniphila were chosen from 27 isolates selected based on their anti-lipogenic activity in 3T3-L1 cells. The anti-lipogenic, anti-adipogenic and anti-obesity properties of these three strains were evaluated further in HFD-induced obese mice. The animals were administered these strains six times per week for 12 weeks. The treatment improved the HFD-induced metabolic disorders in mice in terms of the prevention of body weight gain, caloric intake and reduction in the weights of the major adipose tissues and total fat. In addition, it improved glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity. These effects were also associated with the inhibition of low-grade intestinal inflammation and restoration of damaged gut integrity, prevention of liver steatosis and improvement of hepatic function. These results revealed a difference in the distribution pattern of the gut microbial communities between groups. Therefore, the gut microbial population modulation, at least in part, might contribute to the beneficial impact of the selected A. muciniphila strains against metabolic disorders.

Amelioration of obesity-related characteristics by a probiotic formulation in a high-fat diet-induced obese rat model.

PURPOSE: Obesity is a major public health concern. Despite its multi-factorial etiology, alterations in intestinal microbiota and the immune system are frequently observed. We investigated the effect of Duolac Gold (DG), a probiotic formulation containing 2 Lactobacillus strains (L. acidophilus LA1 and L. rharmnosus LR5), 3 Bifidobacterium (B. bifidum BF3, B. lactis BL3, and B. longum BG7), and Streptococcus thermophilus ST3, on morphometric and metabolic parameters, intestinal microbiota, and intestinal immune responses in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rat model. METHODS: Rats received either a conventional balanced diet or HFD with or without water containing DG for 8 weeks. HFD-induced adiposity, intestinal microbiota, and changes in inflammatory cytokine, chemokine, and metabolite levels in serum were evaluated. RESULTS: DG administration effectively decreased HFD-induced body weight and modulated morphometric and metabolic parameters. Quantitative analysis of fecal microbiota showed that obese rats given DG exhibited significantly increased levels of Bacteroidetes, Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium, with significant decreases in the level of Firmicutes. Serum levels of the inflammatory cytokines and the chemokine were also altered. Serum metabolite analysis revealed that DG administration modulated HFD-induced changes in serum metabolites, including fatty acids (FA), lysophosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine (PC), and triacylglycerol (TAG). CONCLUSIONS: DG administration appears to have the potential to alleviate HDF-induced obesity through the modulation of intestinal microbiota, immune responses, and host metabolism, which supports the use of probiotics to treat obesity.

Efficacy of double-coated probiotics for irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized double-blind controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effects of a dual-coated probiotic supplement (Duolac Care) on symptoms of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome in a randomized double-blind clinical trial. METHODS: Fifty subjects with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome were randomly assigned to either the non-coating group or the dual-coating group in order to receive two capsules per day of multi-species probiotics containing 5 billion bacteria per capsule for 4 weeks. Data from an adequate relief questionnaire were used in assessment of primary outcome. Daily records of stool frequencies and the Bristol stool scale, a weekly symptom diary using 100-mm visual analog scale, and Beck depression inventories were collected. Blood tests including blood cell counts, interleukin-10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and inducible nitric oxide synthase, and regulatory T cells-CD4 + CD25high T cells, CD4 + LAP + T cells and CD25high + LAP + T cells-were analyzed before and after the study. The shift of gut microbiota was investigated using a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay. RESULTS: Responses to the adequate relief questionnaire indicated significant improvement in overall discomfort in the dual-coating group and the ratio of normal stools to hard or watery stools had a better effect from dual-coated probiotics compared to non-coated probiotics. This may be due to a shift of intestinal microbiota, as our correlation analysis showed significant negative correlation between Bifidobacterium and urgency of defecation. CONCLUSIONS: Our result implies that dual-coating layers of probiotic supplement can be a candidate for treatment of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.

A multistrain probiotic formulation attenuates skin symptoms of atopic dermatitis in a mouse model through the generation of CD4+Foxp3+ T cells.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the skin. AD develops mainly in infants and young children. It induces skin disorders and signals the initiation of the allergic march including allergic asthma and rhinitis. Probiotics modify intestinal microbial populations in a beneficial way for human and animal hosts by reducing inflammatory cytokines. OBJECTIVE: As a result of their immunomodulatory properties, probiotics have been considered a promising therapeutic option for the prevention and treatment of AD. DESIGN: In this study, we examined the effects of GI7, a potential probiotic mixture consisting of seven strains of bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria, on AD in a mouse model. RESULTS: Administration of GI7 for 8 weeks reduced AD-like skin lesions and induced changes in the levels of serum markers such as immunoglobulin E and cytokines related to T helper (Th)1 and Th2 cells, and in skin barrier genes. Alleviation of AD seems to be associated with GI7-induced generation of CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells. CONCLUSIONS: The probiotic mixture may have potential to improve symptoms of AD.

Evolutionary architecture of the infant-adapted group of Bifidobacterium species associated with the probiotic function.

Bifidobacteria, often associated with the gastrointestinal tract of animals, are well known for their roles as probiotics. Among the dozens of Bifidobacterium species, Bifidobacterium bifidum, B. breve, and B. longum are the ones most frequently isolated from the feces of infants and known to help the digestion of human milk oligosaccharides. To investigate the correlation between the metabolic properties of bifidobacteria and their phylogeny, we performed a phylogenomic analysis based on 452 core genes of forty-four completely sequenced Bifidobacterium species. Results show that a major evolutionary event leading to the clade of the infant-adapted species is linked to carbohydrate metabolism, but it is not the only factor responsible for the adaptation of bifidobacteria to the gut. The genome of B. longum subsp. infantis, a typical bifidobacterium in the gut of breast-fed infants, encodes proteins associated with several kinds of species-specific metabolic pathways, including urea metabolism and biosynthesis of riboflavin and lantibiotics. Our results demonstrate that these metabolic features, which are associated with the probiotic function of bifidobacteria, are species-specific and highly correlate with their phylogeny.

A Probiotic Preparation Alleviates Atopic Dermatitis-Like Skin Lesions in Murine Models.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with a complex etiology that encompasses immunologic responses. AD is frequently associated with elevated immunoglobulin (Ig) E levels, and common environmental factors contribute to its pathogenesis. Several recent studies have documented the role of specific lactic acid bacteria in the treatment and prevention of AD in humans and mice. In this study, the efficacy of Duolac ATP, a probiotic preparation, was determined in a mouse model with AD-like skin lesions. Alterations in the cytokine levels and histological staining suggested the alleviation of AD. The in vivo test showed that T helper (Th)2 cytokines, IgE, interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-5, were significantly downregulated, whereas Th1 cytokines, IL-12p40 and interferon (IFN)-γ, were upregulated in all groups of mice treated with Duolac ATP compared to that observed in the group of mice treated with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB) alone. Moreover, the scratch score decreased in all mice treated with Duolac ATP. Staining of the dorsal area of the mice in each group with hematoxylin and eosin and toluidine blue further confirmed the alleviation of AD in mice orally treated with Duolac ATP. These results suggest that Duolac ATP inhibits the development of AD-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice by suppressing the Th2 cell response and increasing the Th1 cell response. Thus, Duolac ATP is beneficial and effective for the treatment of AD-like skin lesions.

Complete genome sequence of Bifidobacterium longum KCTC 12200BP, a probiotic strain promoting the intestinal health.

Bifidobacteria constitute a major group of beneficial intestinal bacteria, and are therefore often used to formulate probiotic products in combination with lactic acid bacteria. The availability of bifidobacterial genome sequences has broadened our knowledge on health-promoting factors as well as their safety assessments. Here, we present the complete genome sequence of Bifidobacterium longum CBT BG7 that consists of a 2.45-Mb chromosome and a plasmid.

Complete genome sequence of the probiotic bacterium Bifidobacterium breve KCTC 12201BP isolated from a healthy infant.

We present the completely sequenced genome of Bifidobacterium breve CBT BR3, which was isolated from the feces of a healthy infant. The 2.43-Mb genome contains several kinds of genetic factors associated with health promotion of the human host such as oligosaccharide-degrading genes and vitamin-biosynthetic genes.

Effect of administering a multi-species probiotic mixture on the changes in fecal microbiota and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

We assessed the effect of multi-species probiotic mixture on the changes in fecal microbiota and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms. Eighty-one IBS patients were randomly assigned to receive either probiotic mixture (n = 39; containing Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium breve, B. actis, B. longum, and Streptococcus thermophilus) or placebo (n = 42) for 4 weeks. A questionnaire regarding general symptom relief was administered. The change in total symptom scores (sum of 10 IBS symptoms) and subtotal scores in 4 domains (pain, constipation, diarrhea, and bloating/gas) were evaluated. The change in fecal flora was determined by quantitative real-time PCR. The concentration of probiotic strains significantly increased after ingestion in probiotics group (B. bifidum, p = 0.043; B. lactis, p<0.001; L. acidophilus, p = 0.016; L. rhamnosus, p<0.001). The proportion of patients with adequate symptom relief was higher in probiotics group than in placebo group (74.4% vs 61.9%, p = 0.230). The decrease in total symptom score over time was not significantly different between the groups (p = 0.703). Among subtotal scores of 4 IBS symptom domains, the time effect was significantly different for diarrhea-symptom score between the groups (p = 0.017). A 4-week administration of multi-species probiotic mixture significantly increased the fecal concentration of most probiotic strains and improved diarrhea-symptom scores in IBS patients.

Improvement of atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions by IL-4 inhibition of P14 protein isolated from Lactobacillus casei in NC/Nga mice.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, with a complex etiology encompassing immunologic responses. AD is frequently associated with elevated serum immunoglobulin (Ig) E levels and is exacerbated by a variety of environmental factors, which contribute to its pathogenesis. However, the etiology of AD remains unknown. Recently, reports have documented the role of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in the treatment and prevention of AD in humans and mice. The LAB, Lactobacillus casei (LC), is frequently used in the treatment of AD. To identify the active component of LC, we screened fractions obtained from the ion exchange chromatography of LC extracts. Using this approach, we identified the candidate protein, P14. We examined whether the P14 protein has anti-atopic properties, using both in vitro and in vivo models. Our results showed that the P14 protein selectively downregulated serum IgE and interleukin-4 cytokine levels, as well as the AD index and scratching score in AD-like NC/Nga mice. In addition, histological examination was also effective in mice. These results suggest that the P14 protein has potential therapeutic effects and that it may also serve as an effective immunomodulatory agent for treating patients with AD.

A mixed formulation of lactic acid bacteria inhibits trinitrobenzene-sulfonic-acid-induced inflammatory changes of the colon tissue in mice.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are probiotics that provide numerous beneficial effects on the host body, especially on the intestine. Combining several strains of LAB, we prepared a formulation containing four different LAB and studied its anti-inflammatory activity both in vitro and in vivo. The formulation significantly reduced NO production from RAW 264.7 cells treated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide, indicating that the formulation might include antiinflammatory activity. The formulation also suppressed inflammatory change induced by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) in mice, where oral or rectal administration of the formulation protected the colon tissue from the damage by TNBS. Expressions of the IL-6 and FasL genes appeared to be down-regulated by the formulation in TNBS-treated colon tissues, suggesting that the suppression of those genes may be involved in the anti-inflammatory activity of the formulation.

The effects of co-administration of probiotics with herbal medicine on obesity, metabolic endotoxemia and dysbiosis: a randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Probiotics help maintain balance in composition of the gut microbiota, and have been considered as a potential treatment for obesity. This study was conducted in order to assess the effects of probiotics when combined with herbal medicine in treatment of obesity. Probiotics were tested for the ability to modulate gut microbiota, gut permeability, and endotoxin level, which may have correlation with factors involved in obesity. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study was conducted, in which patients with higher BMI (>25 kg/m(2)) and waist circumference (>85 cm) were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive Bofutsushosan with either probiotics or placebo capsules for a period of eight weeks. Assessment of body composition parameters, metabolic biomarkers, endotoxin level, gut permeability, and fecal bacteria in stool was performed at baseline and at week 8. The study was registered at the Clinical Research Information Service, approved by the Korea National Institute of Health (KCT0000386). RESULTS: Although both groups showed a significant reduction in weight and waist circumference (p = 0.000), no significant differences in body composition and metabolic markers were observed. In correlation analysis, change in body composition showed positive correlation with endotoxin level (r = 0.441, p < 0.05 for BW; and r = 0.350, p < 0.05 for fat mass) and the population of gut Lactobacillus plantarum (r = 0.425, p < 0.05 for BW; and r = 0.407, p < 0.05 for BMI). The Gram negative bacterial population in gut also exhibited positive correlation with changes in body composition (WC) and total cholesterol level (r = 0.359, and 0.393, for the former and later parameters, respectively, p < 0.05 for both). While, the profile of gut Bifidobacterium breve population showed negative correlation with endotoxin level (r = -0.350, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Correlations between gut microbiota and change in body composition indicate that probiotics may influence energy metabolism in obesity. Correlation between endotoxin level and weight reduction indicates that probiotics may play an important role in prevention of endotoxin production, which can lead to gut microbiota dysbiosis associated with obesity.

Effect of multispecies probiotics on irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The efficacy of treatment with multispecies probiotics on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms and the alterations of gut microbiota in patients who have taken probiotics were investigated. METHODS: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involved 49 IBS patients (probiotics: 25, placebo: 24) diagnosed according to the Rome III criteria. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups: either to receive multispecies probiotics (a mixture of Bifidobacterium longum, B. bifidum, B. lactis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. rhamnosus, and Streptococcus thermophilus) twice a day for 4 weeks or to receive a placebo twice a day for 4 weeks. The primary efficacy end-point was the proportion of participants whose IBS symptoms were substantially relieved at week 4. Secondary end-points were the intensity of abdominal pain/discomfort, bloating, stool frequency/consistency, alterations in fecal microflora over the 4 weeks. Fecal microflora were analyzed in 34 patients (probiotics: 17, placebo: 17) by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assays. RESULTS: The proportion of patients whose IBS symptoms were substantially relieved at week 4 was significantly higher in the probiotics group than in the placebo group: 68.0% (17/25) versus 37.5% (9/24) (P < 0.05). Secondary end-points such as improvement in abdominal pain/discomfort and bloating occurred in the probiotics group but not in the placebo group. Fecal analysis revealed that B. lactis, L. rhamnosus, and S. thermophilus had increased significantly in the probiotics group after 4 weeks and that B. lactis had increased in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: Multispecies probiotics are effective in IBS patients and induce the alterations in the composition of intestinal microbiota.