The Role of Probiotics and Prebiotics in the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity

doi:10.3390/nu11030635

Review

. 2019 Mar 15;11(3):635.

doi: 10.3390/nu11030635.

The Role of Probiotics and Prebiotics in the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity

Tomás Cerdó^{1

2

3}, José Antonio García-Santos^{4

5

6}, Mercedes G Bermúdez^{7

8

9}, Cristina Campoy^{10

11

12

13}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Avda. Investigación 11, 18016 Granada, Spain. tcr@ugr.es.
² EURISTIKOS Excellence Centre for Paediatric Research, Biomedical Research Centre, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain. tcr@ugr.es.
³ Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs, GRANADA, Health Sciences Technological Park, 18012 Granada, Spain. tcr@ugr.es.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Avda. Investigación 11, 18016 Granada, Spain. joseantonio_gsantos@outlook.es.
⁵ EURISTIKOS Excellence Centre for Paediatric Research, Biomedical Research Centre, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain. joseantonio_gsantos@outlook.es.
⁶ Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs, GRANADA, Health Sciences Technological Park, 18012 Granada, Spain. joseantonio_gsantos@outlook.es.
⁷ Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Avda. Investigación 11, 18016 Granada, Spain. mgbermudez@ugr.es.
⁸ EURISTIKOS Excellence Centre for Paediatric Research, Biomedical Research Centre, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain. mgbermudez@ugr.es.
⁹ Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs, GRANADA, Health Sciences Technological Park, 18012 Granada, Spain. mgbermudez@ugr.es.
¹⁰ Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Avda. Investigación 11, 18016 Granada, Spain. ccampoy@ugr.es.
¹¹ EURISTIKOS Excellence Centre for Paediatric Research, Biomedical Research Centre, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain. ccampoy@ugr.es.
¹² Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs, GRANADA, Health Sciences Technological Park, 18012 Granada, Spain. ccampoy@ugr.es.
¹³ Spanish Network of Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Granada's node, Carlos III Health Institute of Health Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain. ccampoy@ugr.es.

PMID: 30875987
PMCID: PMC6470608
DOI: 10.3390/nu11030635

Review

The Role of Probiotics and Prebiotics in the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity

Tomás Cerdó et al. Nutrients. 2019.

. 2019 Mar 15;11(3):635.

doi: 10.3390/nu11030635.

Authors

Tomás Cerdó^{1

2

3}, José Antonio García-Santos^{4

5

6}, Mercedes G Bermúdez^{7

8

9}, Cristina Campoy^{10

11

12

13}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Avda. Investigación 11, 18016 Granada, Spain. tcr@ugr.es.
² EURISTIKOS Excellence Centre for Paediatric Research, Biomedical Research Centre, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain. tcr@ugr.es.
³ Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs, GRANADA, Health Sciences Technological Park, 18012 Granada, Spain. tcr@ugr.es.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Avda. Investigación 11, 18016 Granada, Spain. joseantonio_gsantos@outlook.es.
⁵ EURISTIKOS Excellence Centre for Paediatric Research, Biomedical Research Centre, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain. joseantonio_gsantos@outlook.es.
⁶ Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs, GRANADA, Health Sciences Technological Park, 18012 Granada, Spain. joseantonio_gsantos@outlook.es.
⁷ Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Avda. Investigación 11, 18016 Granada, Spain. mgbermudez@ugr.es.
⁸ EURISTIKOS Excellence Centre for Paediatric Research, Biomedical Research Centre, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain. mgbermudez@ugr.es.
⁹ Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs, GRANADA, Health Sciences Technological Park, 18012 Granada, Spain. mgbermudez@ugr.es.
¹⁰ Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Avda. Investigación 11, 18016 Granada, Spain. ccampoy@ugr.es.
¹¹ EURISTIKOS Excellence Centre for Paediatric Research, Biomedical Research Centre, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain. ccampoy@ugr.es.
¹² Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs, GRANADA, Health Sciences Technological Park, 18012 Granada, Spain. ccampoy@ugr.es.
¹³ Spanish Network of Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Granada's node, Carlos III Health Institute of Health Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain. ccampoy@ugr.es.

PMID: 30875987
PMCID: PMC6470608
DOI: 10.3390/nu11030635

Abstract

Obesity is a global pandemic complex to treat due to its multifactorial pathogenesis-an unhealthy lifestyle, neuronal and hormonal mechanisms, and genetic and epigenetic factors are involved. Scientific evidence supports the idea that obesity and metabolic consequences are strongly related to changes in both the function and composition of gut microbiota, which exert an essential role in modulating energy metabolism. Modifications of gut microbiota composition have been associated with variations in body weight and body mass index. Lifestyle modifications remain as primary therapy for obesity and related metabolic disorders. New therapeutic strategies to treat/prevent obesity have been proposed, based on pre- and/or probiotic modulation of gut microbiota to mimic that found in healthy non-obese subjects. Based on human and animal studies, this review aimed to discuss mechanisms through which gut microbiota could act as a key modifier of obesity and related metabolic complications. Evidence from animal studies and human clinical trials suggesting potential beneficial effects of prebiotic and various probiotic strains on those physical, biochemical, and metabolic parameters related to obesity is presented. As a conclusion, a deeper knowledge about pre-/probiotic mechanisms of action, in combination with adequately powered, randomized controlled follow-up studies, will facilitate the clinical application and development of personalized healthcare strategies.

Keywords: gut microbiota; nutrition; obesity; prebiotics; probiotics.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

**Figure 1**
A schematic diagram about potential mechanisms whereby probiotic bacteria might perform within the intestine. These mechanisms include antagonistic effects on various microorganisms, competitive adherence to the mucosa and epithelium (antimicrobial activity), increased mucus production and enhanced barrier integrity (enhancement of barrier function), and modulation of the human immune system (immunomodulation).

**Figure 2**
Mechanism of prebiotic action. These mechanisms include the production of microbial metabolic products, noting short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the promotion of ion and trace element absorption (such as that of calcium, iron, and magnesium), a decrease in luminal pH, and the regulation of the immune system (increasing IgA production and modulating cytokine production).

See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

1. World Health Organization . Obesity: Preventing and Managing the Global Epidemic. World Health Organization; Geneva, Switzerland: 2000. - PubMed
1. Khayatzadeh-Mahani A., Ruckert A., Labonté R. Obesity prevention: Co-framing for intersectoral ‘buy-in’. Crit. Public Health. 2018;28:4–11. doi: 10.1080/09581596.2017.1282604. - DOI
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1. Monteiro C.A., Moubarac J.C., Cannon G., Ng S.W., Popkin B. Ultra-processed products are becoming dominant in the global food system. Obes. Rev. 2013;14:21–28. doi: 10.1111/obr.12107. - DOI - PubMed
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[1] World Health Organization . Obesity: Preventing and Managing the Global Epidemic. World Health Organization; Geneva, Switzerland: 2000. - PubMed

[2] World Health Organization . Obesity: Preventing and Managing the Global Epidemic. World Health Organization; Geneva, Switzerland: 2000. - PubMed

[3] Khayatzadeh-Mahani A., Ruckert A., Labonté R. Obesity prevention: Co-framing for intersectoral ‘buy-in’. Crit. Public Health. 2018;28:4–11. doi: 10.1080/09581596.2017.1282604. - DOI

[4] Khayatzadeh-Mahani A., Ruckert A., Labonté R. Obesity prevention: Co-framing for intersectoral ‘buy-in’. Crit. Public Health. 2018;28:4–11. doi: 10.1080/09581596.2017.1282604. - DOI

[5] Bray G.A., Ryan D.H. Clinical evaluation of the overweight patient. Endocrine. 2000;13:167–186. doi: 10.1385/ENDO:13:2:167. - DOI - PubMed

[6] Bray G.A., Ryan D.H. Clinical evaluation of the overweight patient. Endocrine. 2000;13:167–186. doi: 10.1385/ENDO:13:2:167. - DOI - PubMed

[7] Monteiro C.A., Moubarac J.C., Cannon G., Ng S.W., Popkin B. Ultra-processed products are becoming dominant in the global food system. Obes. Rev. 2013;14:21–28. doi: 10.1111/obr.12107. - DOI - PubMed

[8] Monteiro C.A., Moubarac J.C., Cannon G., Ng S.W., Popkin B. Ultra-processed products are becoming dominant in the global food system. Obes. Rev. 2013;14:21–28. doi: 10.1111/obr.12107. - DOI - PubMed

[9] Kasselman L.J., Vernice N.A., DeLeon J., Reiss A.B. The gut microbiome and elevated cardiovascular risk in obesity and autoimmunity. Atherosclerosis. 2018;271:203–213. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2018.02.036. - DOI - PubMed

[10] Kasselman L.J., Vernice N.A., DeLeon J., Reiss A.B. The gut microbiome and elevated cardiovascular risk in obesity and autoimmunity. Atherosclerosis. 2018;271:203–213. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2018.02.036. - DOI - PubMed

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The Role of Probiotics and Prebiotics in the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity

Affiliations

The Role of Probiotics and Prebiotics in the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

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