Effects of probiotics on body weight, body mass index, fat mass and fat percentage in subjects with overweight or obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
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Summary A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials was conducted to examine the effects of probiotic supplementation on body weight, body mass index (BMI), fat mass and fat percentage in subjects with overweight (BMI 25–29.9 kg m−2) or obesity (BMI ≥30 kg m−2). MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for studies published between 1946 and September 2016. A meta‐analysis, using a random effects model, was performed to calculate the weighted mean difference between the intervention and control groups. Of 800 studies identified through the literature search, 15 were finally included. The studies comprised a total of 957 subjects (63% women), with the mean BMI being 27.6 kg m−2 and the duration of the interventions ranging from 3 to 12 weeks. Administration of probiotics resulted in a significantly larger reduction in body weight (weighted mean difference [95% confidence interval]; −0.60 [−1.19, −0.01] kg, I2 = 49%), BMI (−0.27 [−0.45, −0.08] kg m−2, I2 = 57%) and fat percentage (−0.60 [−1.20, −0.01] %, I2 = 19%), compared with placebo; however, the effect sizes were small. The effect of probiotics on fat mass was non‐significant (−0.42 [−1.08, 0.23] kg, I2 = 84%).
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Systematic reviews show that consuming probiotics causes overweight and obese people to lose weight, but the weight loss and reduction in waist circumference and visceral fat is small.
“Systematic reviews have shown that by consuming probiotics [137,138,139,140], overweight and obese people lose weight, but the weight loss and reduction in waist circumference and visceral fat is small [137,138,139,140].”
From The Potential Impact of Probiotics on Human Health: An Update on Their Health-Promoting Properties (2024) · cites this paper as [137]
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- Authors
- Borgeraas, H., Johnson, L. K., Skattebu, J., Hertel, J. K., & Hjelmesæth, J.
- Affiliations
- Sykehuset i Vestfold (NO)
- Morbid Obesity Centre Vestfold Hospital Trust Tønsberg Norway
- Corresponding author
- Borgeraas, H.
- Venue
- Obesity Reviews
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2017-10-18
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 219-232
- ISSN
- 1467-7881 (ISSN-L)
- 1467-789X
- OpenAlex
- W2765626350
- Cited by
- 278
- References
- 51
- Citations by year
- 2026: 20 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 32 · 2022: 41 · 2021: 38 · 2020: 37 · 2019: 36 · 2018: 13
- FWCI
- 2.55
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Obesity Reviews (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Sykehuset i Vestfold
- 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 › Pharmacology › Pharmacology and Obesity Treatment
- Keywords
- probiotics, probiotic supplementation, overweight, obesity, body weight, body mass index, fat mass, body fat percentage, weight loss
- MeSH terms
- Body Weight, Humans, Obesity, Weight Loss, Body Mass Index, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Databases, Factual, Probiotics
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