Kefir prevented excess fat accumulation in diet-induced obese mice
Open accessAbstract
Excessive body fat accumulation can result in obesity, which is a serious health concern. Kefir, a probiotic, has recently shown possible health benefits in fighting obesity. This study investigated the inhibitory effects of 0.1 and 0.2% kefir powder on fat accumulation in adipose and liver tissues of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Kefir reduced body weight and epididymal fat pad weight and decreased adipocyte diameters in HFD-induced obese mice. This was supported by decreased expression of genes related to adipogenesis and lipogenesis as well as reduced proinflammatory marker levels in epididymal fat. Along with reduced hepatic triacylglycerol concentrations and serum alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase activities, genes related to lipogenesis and fatty acid oxidation were downregulated and upregulated, respectively, in liver tissue. Kefir also decreased serum triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein–cholesterol concentrations. Overall, kefir has the potential to prevent obesity.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In mice fed an obesogenic diet, kefir prevented the increase of lipid parameters.
“Choi et al. (30) observed that kefir prevented the increase of lipid parameters in mice fed with an obesogenic diet, proposing that kefir acted by preventing lipid intestinal absorption (Table 1).”
From Kefir and Intestinal Microbiota Modulation: Implications in Human Health (2021) · cites this paper as [30]
Kefir acted by preventing lipid intestinal absorption.
“Choi et al. (30) observed that kefir prevented the increase of lipid parameters in mice fed with an obesogenic diet, proposing that kefir acted by preventing lipid intestinal absorption (Table 1).”
From Kefir and Intestinal Microbiota Modulation: Implications in Human Health (2021) · cites this paper as [30]
Cites
Mechanisms linking obesity with cardiovascular disease
Van Gaal, L. F., Mertens, I. L., & De Block, C. E. (2006) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature05487 · Cited by 2,814 · see citing works
Understanding Adipocyte Differentiation
Gregoire, F. M., Smas, C. M., & Sul, H. S. (1998) · Physiological Reviews · doi:10.1152/physrev.1998.78.3.783 · Cited by 2,357 · see citing works
Transcriptional regulation of adipogenesis.Preprint
Rosen, E., Walkey, C., Puigserver, P., & Spiegelman, B. (2000) · Genes & Development · doi:10.1101/gad.14.11.1293 · Cited by 2,180 · see citing works
Jung, U. J., & Choi, M. (2014) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms15046184 · Cited by 1,898 · see citing works
Regulated expression of three C/EBP isoforms during adipose conversion of 3T3-L1 cells.
Cao, Z., Umek, R. M., & McKnight, S. L. (1991) · Genes & Development · doi:10.1101/gad.5.9.1538 · Cited by 1,663 · see citing works
Manninen, V, Tenkanen, L., Koskinen, P., Huttunen, J. K., Mänttäri, M., Heinonen, O. P., & Frick, M. H. (1992) · Circulation · doi:10.1161/01.cir.85.1.37 · Cited by 1,329 · see citing works
Delannoy, S., Chaves, B. D., Ison, S. A., Webb, H. E., Beutin, L., Delaval, J., Billet, I., & Fach, P. (2016) · Frontiers in Microbiology · doi:10.3389/fmicb.2016.00001 · Cited by 1,186 · see citing works
Impacts of gut bacteria on human health and diseases
Zhang, Y.-J., Li, S., Gan, R.-Y., Zhou, T., Xu, D.-P., & Li, H.-B. (2015) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms16047493 · Cited by 1,055 · see citing works
Adipokines in health and disease
Fasshauer, M., & Blüher, M. (2015) · Trends in Pharmacological Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.tips.2015.04.014 · Cited by 1,050 · see citing works
Overweight, Obesity, and Health Risk
National Task Force on the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity (2000) · Archives of Internal Medicine · doi:10.1001/archinte.160.7.898 · Cited by 963 · see citing works
Adipocyte dysfunction, inflammation and metabolic syndrome
Klöting, N., & Blüher, M. (2014) · Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders · doi:10.1007/s11154-014-9301-0 · Cited by 473 · see citing works
The Microbiota and Health Promoting Characteristics of the Fermented Beverage Kefir
Bourrie, B. C. T., Willing, B. P., & Cotter, P. D. (2016) · Frontiers in Microbiology · doi:10.3389/fmicb.2016.00647 · Cited by 449 · see citing works
Microbiological, technological and therapeutic properties of kefir: a natural probiotic beverage
Leite, A. M. D. O., Miguel, M. A. L., Peixoto, R. S., Rosado, A. S., Silva, J. T., & Paschoalin, V. M. F. (2013) · Brazilian Journal of Microbiology · doi:10.1590/s1517-83822013000200001 · Cited by 376 · see citing works
Astrup, A. V. (2014) · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.3945/ajcn.113.073015 · Cited by 249 · see citing works
Wang, Y., Xu, N., Xi, A., Ahmed, Z., Zhang, B., & Bai, X. (2009) · Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology · doi:10.1007/s00253-009-2012-x · Cited by 200 · see citing works
Lactobacillus plantarum strains as potential probiotic cultures with cholesterol-lowering activity
Huang, Y., Wang, X., Wang, J., Wu, F., Sui, Y., Yang, L., & Wang, Z. (2013) · Journal of Dairy Science · doi:10.3168/jds.2012-6123 · Cited by 168 · see citing works
Effects of an exopolysaccharide (kefiran) on lipids, blood pressure, blood glucose, and constipation
Maeda, H., Zhu, X., Omura, K., Suzuki, S., & Kitamura, S. (2004) · BioFactors · doi:10.1002/biof.5520220141 · Cited by 167 · see citing works
St-Onge, M.-P., Farnworth, E. R., Savard, T., Chabot, D., Mafu, A., & Jones, P. J. (2002) · BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine · doi:10.1186/1472-6882-2-1 · Cited by 167 · see citing works
Hypocholesterolaemic effects of milk-kefir and soyamilk-kefir in cholesterol-fed hamsters
Liu, J.-R., Wang, S.-Y., Chen, M.-J., Chen, H.-L., Yueh, P.-Y., & Lin, C.-W. (2006) · British Journal of Nutrition · doi:10.1079/bjn20061752 · Cited by 115 · see citing works
Antitumor Activity of Milk Kefir and Soy Milk Kefir in Tumor-Bearing Mice
Liu, J.-R., Wang, S.-Y., Lin, Y.-Y., & Lin, C.-W. (2002) · Nutrition and Cancer · doi:10.1207/s15327914nc4402_10 · Cited by 114 · see citing works
A Review of Evidence‐Based Strategies to Treat Obesity in Adults
Laddu, D., Dow, C. A., Hingle, M. D., Thomson, C. A., & Going, S. B. (2011) · Nutrition in Clinical Practice · doi:10.1177/0884533611418335 · Cited by 101 · see citing works
Oral Administration of Kefiran Induces Changes in the Balance of Immune Cells in a Murine Model
Medrano, M., Racedo, S., Rolny, I. S., Abraham, A. G., & Pérez, P. F. (2011) · Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry · doi:10.1021/jf1049968 · Cited by 88 · see citing works
Chen, H. L., Tung, Y.-T., Tsai, C.-L., Lai, C.-W., Lai, Z.-L., Tsai, H.-C., Lin, Y.-L., Wang, C.-H., & Chen, C.-M. (2013) · International Journal of Obesity · doi:10.1038/ijo.2013.236 · Cited by 76 · see citing works
Ho, J., Son, M.-E., Lim, W., Lim, S.-T., & Cho, H. (2012) · Bioscience Biotechnology and Biochemistry · doi:10.1271/bbb.110666 · Cited by 63 · see citing works
Self-citationIn vitro assay of the antimicrobial activity of kephir against bacterial and fungal strains
Chifiriuc, M. C., Cioaca, A. B., & Lazar, V. (2011) · Anaerobe · doi:10.1016/j.anaerobe.2011.04.020 · Cited by 53 · see citing works
Ho, J., Choi, J., Lim, W., Kim, M., Lee, I., & Cho, H. (2012) · Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture · doi:10.1002/jsfa.5792 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
Self-citationYoshida, Y., Yokoi, W., Ohishi, K., Ito, M., Naito, E., & Sawada, H. (2005) · Bioscience Biotechnology and Biochemistry · doi:10.1271/bbb.69.714 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Germinated Waxy Black Rice Suppresses Weight Gain in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice
Lim, W., Ho, J., Lee, H.-S., & Cho, H. (2016) · Journal of Medicinal Food · doi:10.1089/jmf.2015.3590 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Self-citation
Flagged first, then by citations
1 of the 29 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
The Western Diet–Microbiome-Host Interaction and Its Role in Metabolic Disease
Zinöcker, M. K., & Lindseth, I. A. (2018) · doi:10.20944/preprints201803.0064.v1 · Cited by 776 · see citing works
Farag, M. A., Jomaa, S. A., El‐Wahed, A. A. A., & El-Seedi, H. R. (2020) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu12020346 · Cited by 269 · see citing works
Güzel‐Seydim, Z. B., Gökırmaklı, Ç., & Greene, A. K. (2021) · Trends in Food Science & Technology · doi:10.1016/j.tifs.2021.04.041 · Cited by 174 · see citing works
Kefir and Intestinal Microbiota Modulation: Implications in Human Health
Peluzio, M. D. C. G., Dias, M. D. M. E., Martinez, J. A., & Milagro, F. I. (2021) · Frontiers in Nutrition · doi:10.3389/fnut.2021.638740 · Cited by 92 · see citing works
Tu, M., Han, K.-Y., Chang, G. R., Lai, G.-D., Chang, K., Chen, C., Lai, J., Lai, J., Chen, H., & Chen, H. (2020) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu12113432 · Cited by 88 · see citing works
Nazhand, A., Souto, E. B., Lucarini, M., Souto, S. B., Durazzo, A., & Santini, A. (2020) · Beverages · doi:10.3390/beverages6020026 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
Chen, Y., Lin, Y., Lin, J., Yang, N., & Chen, M. (2018) · Molecular Nutrition & Food Research · doi:10.1002/mnfr.201700903 · Cited by 77 · see citing works
Recent developments in dairy kefir-derived lactic acid bacteria and their health benefits
Yılmaz, B., Sharma, H., Melekoğlu, E., & Özoğul, F. (2022) · Food Bioscience · doi:10.1016/j.fbio.2022.101592 · Cited by 73 · see citing works
Bourrie, B. C. T., Cotter, P. D., & Willing, B. P. (2018) · Journal of Functional Foods · doi:10.1016/j.jff.2018.04.039 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
Fermented Foods in the Management of Obesity: Mechanisms of Action and Future Challenges
Jalili, M., Nazari, M., & Magkos, F. (2023) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms24032665 · Cited by 56 · see citing works
Nutritional Characteristics, Health Impact, and Applications of Kefir
Apalowo, O. E., Adegoye, G. A., Mbogori, T. N., Kandiah, J., & Obuotor, T. M. (2024) · Foods · doi:10.3390/foods13071026 · Cited by 53 · see citing works
Koyu, E. B., Sarer-Yurekli, B. P., Karagözlü, C., Köse, F. A., Özgen, G., & Büyüktuncer, Z. (2022) · Nutrition Research · doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2022.02.006 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
Bourrie, B. C. T., Ju, T., Fouhse, J. M., Forgie, A. J., Sergi, C. M., Cotter, P. D., & Willing, B. P. (2020) · British Journal Of Nutrition · doi:10.1017/s0007114520002743 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Akar, F., Şumlu, E., Alçığır, M. E., Bostancı, A., & Sadı, G. (2021) · Food Research International · doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2021.110287 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Kefir in the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders
Bourrie, B. C. T., Richard, C., & Willing, B. P. (2020) · Current Nutrition Reports · doi:10.1007/s13668-020-00315-3 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
Roselli, M., Devirgiliis, C., Zinno, P., Guantario, B., Finamore, A., Rami, R., & Perozzi, G. (2017) · Genes & Nutrition · doi:10.1186/s12263-017-0583-1 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Invited review: Potential antiobesity effect of fermented dairy products
Manzanarez-Quin, C. G., Beltrán‐Barrientos, L. M., Hernández‐Mendoza, A., González-Córdova, A. F., & Vallejo‐Córdoba, B. (2021) · Journal of Dairy Science · doi:10.3168/jds.2020-19256 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Larosa, C. P., Balthazar, C. F., Guimarães, J. T., Margalho, L. P., Lemos, F. S., de Oliveira, F. L., Abud, Y., Sant’Anna, C., Duarte, M. C. K. H., Granato, D., et al. (2021) · Food Chemistry · doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.129290 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Ekici, Ö., Aslan, E., Aladağ, T., Güzel, H., Korkmaz, Ö. A., Bostancı, A., Sadı, G., & Pektaş, M. B. (2021) · Journal of Food Biochemistry · doi:10.1111/jfbc.13732 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Qaisrani, Z. N., Lin, W. P., Lay, B. B., Phyo, K. Y., San, M. M., Awaeloh, N., Aunsorn, S., Pattanayaiying, R., Ayudthaya, S. P. N., Hongkulsup, C., et al. (2025) · Foods · doi:10.3390/foods14122077 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Kefir Beverage and Its Effects on Health
Noğay, N. H. (2019) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-815504-2.00008-6 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Koyu, E. B., & Büyüktuncer, Z. (2018) · Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics · doi:10.33076/2018.bdd.301 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Peng, H., Zhou, Y., Zhang, C., Wang, M., Zhao, S., Xu, Y., Zhang, W., Xin, H., & Wang, X. (2020) · Journal of Materials Chemistry B · doi:10.1039/d0tb01547d · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Karaffová, V., Mudroňová, D., Maďar, M., Hrčková, G., Faixová, D., Gancarčíková, S., Ševčíková, Z., & Nemcová, R. (2021) · Microorganisms · doi:10.3390/microorganisms9040831 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Bioactive potentials of paraprobiotic kefir: Enhanced protein hydrolysis and anticancer efficacy
Akan, E., Yavaş, A., & Dikme, M. (2024) · International Dairy Journal · doi:10.1016/j.idairyj.2024.106169 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Côco, L. Z., Aires, R., Carvalho, G. R., Belisário, E. D. S., Yap, M. K. K., Amorim, F. G., Conde, J., Nogueira, B. V., Vasquez, E. C., Pereira, T. D. M. C., et al. (2023) · Cells · doi:10.3390/cells12242799 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Small- and Large-Scale Production of Probiotic Foods, Probiotic Potential and Nutritional Benefits
Akhtar, G., Bhat, N. A., Masoodi, F. A., & Gani, A. (2021) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-822909-5.00023-x · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Synbiotic goat milk kefir improves health status in rats fed a high-fat and high-fructose diet
Nurliyani, N., Harmayani, E., & Sunarti, S. (2022) · Veterinary World · doi:10.14202/vetworld.2022.173-181 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Kefir milk consumption decreases sperm alterations due to the high‐fat diet in adult male rats
Hammami, I., Ali, R. B., Nahdi, A., Boussada, M., Mahjoub, R., Bibi, A., & May, M. V. E. (2022) · Andrologia · doi:10.1111/and.14428 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Dairy-based functional food products
Lamsar, H., & Abhilasha, A. (2023) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-824312-1.00004-2 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Aslan, E., Sadı, G., Güzel, H., Karaca, Ç., Korkmaz, Ö. A., Pektas, M. K., Çeleğen, M., Aladağ, T., Öncü, Ş., & Pektaş, M. B. (2023) · Polish Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences · doi:10.31883/pjfns/162710 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Mutalub, Y. B., Azemi, A. K., Suhaimi, S. Q. A., Rasool, A. H. G., Tang, S. P., Lee, C., & Mokhtar, S. S. (2025) · Journal of Functional Foods · doi:10.1016/j.jff.2025.106802 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Escouto, L. D. S., Batista, T. J., Peixoto, P., Firmino, F. T., Ronchi, S. N., Barroso, M. E. D. S., Kampke, E. H., de Andrade, T. U., de Melo, A. F., & Bissoli, N. S. (2025) · Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins · doi:10.1007/s12602-025-10490-w · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Milk and Water Kefir Composition and Its Biological Health Effects
Grancieri, M., Verediano, T. A., Tostes, M. D. G. V., & Viana, M. L. (2022) · ACS symposium series · doi:10.1021/bk-2022-1406.ch002 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Akar, F., Güney, C., Özer, H., Pektaş, M. B., Koca, H. B., Kocabaş, A., & Sadı, G. (2021) · Istanbul Journal of Pharmacy · doi:10.26650/istanbuljpharm.2021.933139 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Fermented Foods for Traditional Healing Against Metabolic Diseases
Shakeela, H., & Nisha, P. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-72757-3_17 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Packaging and Packaging Food Technology for Ethnic Fermented Food Products
Agarwal, N., Kamran, M., Joshi, R., & Negi, P. (2025) · Disaster Resilience and Green Growth · doi:10.1007/978-981-96-9286-6_10 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Biotecnología del kéfir: una revisión sobre las aplicaciones y sus perspectivas futuras
Vázquez, M. E. C., & Koch, A. R. (2021) · Alimentos Ciencia e Ingeniería · doi:10.31243/aci.v28i1.1042 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Radiati, L. E., Hati, D. L., Andarini, S., Handayani, D., & Rosyidi, D. (2022) · Indonesian Journal of Human Nutrition · doi:10.21776/ub.ijhn.2022.009.02.9
Orhan, S., Çiçek, H., Örkmez, M., Bozdayı, M. A., Yavuz, E., Kaplan, D. S., & Bozkurt, A. S. (2023) · Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi · doi:10.35440/hutfd.1371056
Antioxidant Effects of Bioactive Components of Kefir
Güven, A. (2025) · Caucasian Journal of Science · doi:10.48138/cjo.1486320
Özbay, Ü. N., Coşkun, M., Sahin, G., Güzel‐Seydim, Z. B., Bolayır, B., Altınova, A. E., Aktürk, M., & Törüner, F. B. (2025) · International Dairy Journal · doi:10.1016/j.idairyj.2025.106497
Lópeź‐Yoldi, M., Huguet-Casquero, A., Aranaz, P., Riezu‐Boj, J. I., Fernández-Fernández, M., Alkorta‐Aranburu, G., Fratebianchi, D., Gaínza, E., & Milagro, F. I. (2026) · Nutraceuticals · doi:10.3390/nutraceuticals6010007
- Authors
- Choi, J.-W., Kang, H. W., Lim, W.-C., Kim, M.-K., Lee, I.-Y., & Cho, H.-Y.
- Affiliations
- Department of Food and Biotechnology, Korea University, Sejong, Korea
- North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (US)
- Korea University (KR)
- Naturene Co. Ltd., Chungnam, Korea
- Corresponding author
- Cho, Hong-Yon
- Venue
- Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2017-05-04
- Volume
- 81
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 958-965
- ISSN
- 0916-8451 (ISSN-L)
- 1347-6947
- OpenAlex
- W2581334172
- Cited by
- 43
- References
- 29
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 3.69
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- academic.oup.com/journals/pages/open_access/funder_policies/chorus/standard_publication_model (vor)
- Locations
- Bioscience Biotechnology and Biochemistry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Korea University (KU-12-0322)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
- Keywords
- kefir, probiotics, obesity, high-fat diet, fat deposition, adipose tissue, liver, adipogenesis, lipogenesis, fatty acid oxidation, inflammation, hepatic triglycerides, serum lipids, body weight
- MeSH terms
- Kefir, Adipose Tissue, Animals, Body Weight, Epididymis, Lipids, Liver, Male, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Obese, Obesity, Adipocytes, Cell Size, Lipogenesis, Adipogenesis, Mice, Diet, High-Fat
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
