Effects of Synbiotic Supplement on Body Weight and Fasting Blood Glucose Levels in Obesity: A Randomized Placebo-controlled Trial

Background: Obesity and diabetes are related. The role of gut microbiota disruption in obesity has been reported as a cause of several metabolic diseases including diabetes.

Objectives: Evaluate the effects of synbiotic supplementation (a combination of probiotic and prebiotic) on body weight (BW), Body Mass Index (BMI), and Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG) in obese subjects.

Methods: This study was a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled. Participants were allocated with randomization into 2 groups: the obese group with synbiotic supplementation and the obese group with placebo; each group consists of 8 participants. BW, BMI, and FBG level were measured at baseline, 8 weeks after supplementation, and 4 weeks after terminating the supplementation.

Results: There were no significant change of body weight and BMI after 8 weeks synbiotics supplementation and 4 weeks after supplement discontinuation, but there were significant increases in body weight by 3.38 kg and BMI by 1.37 kg/m in the control group. Fasting blood glucose levels were significantly decreased by 6.125 mg/dL after synbiotic supplementation. FBG did not resume 4 weeks after terminating the supplementation. In contrast, there was a significant increase of FBG in control group on week 8 and was further increased 4 weeks after placebo was discontinued.

Conclusions: Synbiotic supplementation may prevent increase of body weight and BMI in obesity and this may be related with lower fasting blood glucose levels.