ESPE Abstracts

Background: Childhood obesity has been a worrisome public health issues today. Recent studies conducted in adult populations and animals have suggested beneficial effects of probiotics on obesity, while, the experience is limited in the pediatric age group and the results are conflict.

Object: The primary objective was to determine the effect of Probiotics consumption on weight change. The secondary objective was to determine the effect of the treatment on levels of inflammatory cytokines, serum lipid profile and glucose metabolism.

Methods: This randomized double-blind trial was conducted among obese children aged 6 to 14 years old. They were randomly allocated to receive probiotic capsule (containing Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus) for 12 weeks. All of them treated with a reduced calorie intake and increased physical activity. The anthropometric, inflammatory cytokines, blood lipids and fasting blood glucose, Insulin were measured at both baseline and at the end of the study.

Result: 1) A total of 54 obese children participate in the study. 30 were randomized to the probiotic group(19 boys and 11 girls, mean age 9.88±1.79years, mean BMI 25.73±3.71 kg/m²) and 24 were randomized to the placebo control group(15 boys and 9 girls, mean age 9.60±2.07years, mean BMI 25.35±3.57 kg/m²). 2) Compared to control group, probiotic consumption significantly reduced Body Mass Index(BMI), Inflammatory markers (interleukin-6, Lipopolysaccharide binding protein, Tumor necrosis factor α), Triglyceride, fasting blood glucose, Insulin and Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance(HOMA-IR) (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Receiving 12 weeks probiotic supplement can improve body mass index as well as components of the inflammatory and Glycolipid metabolism.Additionly,to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study showing the effects of probiotic on Lipopolysaccharide binding protein in obese children.