Bifidobacterium lactis IDCC 4301 (B. lactis Fit™) supplementation effects on body fat, serum triglyceride, and adipokine ratio in obese women: a randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Obesity is a common metabolic disease characterized by abnormal fat accumulation. It contributes to health issues, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and dyslipidemia, necessitating continuous management through diet and physical activity. Probiotics, particularly Bifidobacterium lactis IDCC 4301 (B. lactis Fit™), have shown promise in positively regulating the gut microbiota. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the anti-obesity effect of B. lactis IDCC 4301 (B. lactis Fit™) in obese women. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm study was performed in 99 volunteers with a body mass index (BMI) of 25–30 kg m⁻². The participants were randomly assigned to probiotics (n = 49, >5.0 × 10⁹ CFU day⁻¹) or placebo (n = 50) groups. Body fat, lipid profiles, and adipokine levels were assessed at baseline and at 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, changes in total fat (placebo −0.16 ± 0.83 kg; probiotics −0.45 ± 0.83 kg; p = 0.0407), trunk fat (placebo −0.03 ± 0.50 kg; probiotics −0.22 ± 0.51 kg; p = 0.0200), and serum triglyceride concentration (placebo 13 ± 60 mg dL⁻¹; probiotics −15 ± 62 mg dL⁻¹; p = 0.0088) were significantly different between the groups. The difference in total fat mass change between groups among postmenopausal women was greater than that of all women. A significant positive correlation was found between the change in total fat mass and log leptin/adiponectin ratio (R = 0.371, p = 0.0112) in the probiotics group. In addition, BMI (26.6 ± 1.9 kg m⁻² to 26.4 ± 2.0 kg m⁻², p = 0.0009) and leg fat (42 ± 5% to 41 ± 5%, p = 0.0006) significantly decreased in the probiotics group after 12 weeks, but there was no difference in the placebo group. In conclusion, B. lactis IDCC 4301 (B. lactis Fit™) may be associated with body fat loss through changes in metabolic health parameters, such as serum triglyceride and adipokine levels. The clinical trial registry number is KCT0007425 (https://cris.nih.go.kr).