Clinical Benefits

Recent microbiome research has established a potential correlation betweenbody weight and the microbiome. DNA analysis has shown that obesesubjects may have a different microbiome composition to lean subjects. Gutbacterial composition is able to influence how energy is stored, as well asinfluence glycaemic control and satiety hormones. Specific probiotics can bea useful adjunct to dietary programs to control weight, metabolic markersand body composition.⁶

Weight control and body composition: Bifidobacterium animalis ssp lactis (B-420™) has a growing body of human and animal research, including a 2016 clinical trial. A 6 month study of 225 non-dieting, overweight people (predominantly women aged 40+) took 10 billion CFU B-420™ daily (with or without dietary fibre) or placebo. Both B-420™ groups showed significant improvements in fat mass, abdominal fat, waist circumference and lean muscle mass, as well as an overall reduction in calorie consumption.⁷ Pre-clinical animal and in vitro research on B-420™ has demonstrated reduced weight gain, improved glycaemic response,^8,9 reduced zonulin levels (a marker of intestinal permeability),¹⁰ improved tight junction integrity, and protection against E. coli-induced damage; decreasing gut inflammation and the consequential impairment in insulin sensitivity.^11,12

Cardiometabolic markers can also be influenced by probiotics. A 2016 study on 51 adults with metabolic syndrome showed that Bifidobacterium animalis ssp lactis (HN019™) reduced BMI, total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein (LDL).^13* The proposed mechanism is associated with prevention of cholesterol absorption by the intestinal tract into the blood stream, by aiding the assimilation of cholesterol during bacterial multiplication and cholesterol binding, and to improve liver metabolism through increased short chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, inhibiting HMG Co-A reductase.¹⁴ Mechanistically, it has been shown to reduce proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6, which are associated with the development of obesity.¹⁵

^*27.2 Billion CFU daily of HN019^™equivalent to two capsules.