Is It Time to Use Probiotics to Prevent or Treat Obesity?

In recent years, attention has been given to the role potentially played by gut microbiota in the development of obesity. Several studies have shown that in individuals with obesity, the gut microbiota composition can be significantly different from that of lean individuals, that faecal bacteria can...

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Main Authors: Andrea Brusaferro, Rita Cozzali, Ciriana Orabona, Anna Biscarini, Edoardo Farinelli, Elena Cavalli, Ursula Grohmann, Nicola Principi, Susanna Esposito
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2018-11-01
Series:Nutrients
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/10/11/1613
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spelling doaj-89ead5022eb4434393900629a525f6d42020-11-24T22:57:07ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432018-11-011011161310.3390/nu10111613nu10111613Is It Time to Use Probiotics to Prevent or Treat Obesity?Andrea Brusaferro0Rita Cozzali1Ciriana Orabona2Anna Biscarini3Edoardo Farinelli4Elena Cavalli5Ursula Grohmann6Nicola Principi7Susanna Esposito8Pediatric Clinic, Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06132 Perugia, ItalyPediatric Clinic, Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06132 Perugia, ItalyPharmacology Section, Department of Experimental Medicine, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06132 Perugia, ItalyPediatric Clinic, Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06132 Perugia, ItalyPediatric Clinic, Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06132 Perugia, ItalyPediatric Clinic, Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06132 Perugia, ItalyPharmacology Section, Department of Experimental Medicine, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06132 Perugia, ItalyPediatric Clinic, Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06132 Perugia, ItalyPediatric Clinic, Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06132 Perugia, ItalyIn recent years, attention has been given to the role potentially played by gut microbiota in the development of obesity. Several studies have shown that in individuals with obesity, the gut microbiota composition can be significantly different from that of lean individuals, that faecal bacteria can exert a fundamental role in modulating energy metabolism, and that modifications of gut microbiota composition can be associated with increases or reductions of body weight and body mass index. Based on this evidence, manipulation of the gut microbiota with probiotics has been considered a possible method to prevent and treat obesity. However, despite a great amount of data, the use of probiotics to prevent and treat obesity and related problems remains debated. Studies have found that the probiotic effect on body weight and metabolism is strain specific and that only some of the species included in the <i>Lactobacillus</i> and <i>Bifidobacterium</i> genera are effective, whereas the use of other strains can be deleterious. However, the dosage, duration of administration, and long-term effects of probiotics administration to prevent overweight and obesity are not known. Further studies are needed before probiotics can be rationally prescribed for the prevention or treatment of obesity. Control of the diet and environmental and life-style factors that favour obesity development remain the best solution to problems related to weight gain.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/10/11/1613body weightdysbiosisgut microbiotaobesityprobiotics
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Andrea Brusaferro
Rita Cozzali
Ciriana Orabona
Anna Biscarini
Edoardo Farinelli
Elena Cavalli
Ursula Grohmann
Nicola Principi
Susanna Esposito
spellingShingle Andrea Brusaferro
Rita Cozzali
Ciriana Orabona
Anna Biscarini
Edoardo Farinelli
Elena Cavalli
Ursula Grohmann
Nicola Principi
Susanna Esposito
Is It Time to Use Probiotics to Prevent or Treat Obesity?
Nutrients
body weight
dysbiosis
gut microbiota
obesity
probiotics
author_facet Andrea Brusaferro
Rita Cozzali
Ciriana Orabona
Anna Biscarini
Edoardo Farinelli
Elena Cavalli
Ursula Grohmann
Nicola Principi
Susanna Esposito
author_sort Andrea Brusaferro
title Is It Time to Use Probiotics to Prevent or Treat Obesity?
title_short Is It Time to Use Probiotics to Prevent or Treat Obesity?
title_full Is It Time to Use Probiotics to Prevent or Treat Obesity?
title_fullStr Is It Time to Use Probiotics to Prevent or Treat Obesity?
title_full_unstemmed Is It Time to Use Probiotics to Prevent or Treat Obesity?
title_sort is it time to use probiotics to prevent or treat obesity?
publisher MDPI AG
series Nutrients
issn 2072-6643
publishDate 2018-11-01
description In recent years, attention has been given to the role potentially played by gut microbiota in the development of obesity. Several studies have shown that in individuals with obesity, the gut microbiota composition can be significantly different from that of lean individuals, that faecal bacteria can exert a fundamental role in modulating energy metabolism, and that modifications of gut microbiota composition can be associated with increases or reductions of body weight and body mass index. Based on this evidence, manipulation of the gut microbiota with probiotics has been considered a possible method to prevent and treat obesity. However, despite a great amount of data, the use of probiotics to prevent and treat obesity and related problems remains debated. Studies have found that the probiotic effect on body weight and metabolism is strain specific and that only some of the species included in the <i>Lactobacillus</i> and <i>Bifidobacterium</i> genera are effective, whereas the use of other strains can be deleterious. However, the dosage, duration of administration, and long-term effects of probiotics administration to prevent overweight and obesity are not known. Further studies are needed before probiotics can be rationally prescribed for the prevention or treatment of obesity. Control of the diet and environmental and life-style factors that favour obesity development remain the best solution to problems related to weight gain.
topic body weight
dysbiosis
gut microbiota
obesity
probiotics
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/10/11/1613
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