Diabetes Metab J.  2023 Jan;47(1):92-103. 10.4093/dmj.2021.0370.

Effect of Lactobacillus plantarum LMT1-48 on Body Fat in Overweight Subjects: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

• Sohn M
• Jung H
• Lee WS
• Kim TH
• Lim S

• KMID: 2538934
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4093/dmj.2021.0370

Abstract

Background
We investigated whether Lactobacillus plantarum strain LMT1-48, isolated from Korean fermented foods and newborn feces, is a suitable probiotic supplement to treat overweight subjects.
Methods
In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 100 volunteers with a body mass index of 25 to 30 kg/m² were assigned randomly (1:1) to receive 2×10¹⁰ colony forming units of LMT1-48 or to a placebo treatment group. Body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and abdominal visceral fat area (VFA) and subcutaneous fat area were measured by computed tomography scanning. Changes in body fat, VFA, anthropometric parameters, and biomarkers were compared between the two treatment groups (ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT03759743).
Results
After 12 weeks of treatment, the body weight decreased significantly from 76.6±9.4 to 75.7±9.2 kg in the LMT1-48 group but did not change in the placebo group (P=0.022 between groups). A similar pattern was found in abdominal VFA between the two groups (P=0.041). Serum insulin levels, the corresponding homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, and leptin levels decreased in the LMT1-48 group but increased in the placebo group (all P<0.05). Decrease in body weight and body mass index by treatment with LMT1-48 was correlated with increase in Lactobacillus levels significantly. LMT1-48 also increased Oscillibacter levels significantly, which were negatively correlated with triglyceride and alanine transaminase levels.
Conclusion
Administration of LMT1-48 decreased body weight, abdominal VFA, insulin resistance, and leptin levels in these subjects with overweight, suggesting its anti-obesogenic therapeutic potential.

Keyword

Adiposity; Obesity

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Effects of LMT1-48 ingestion on body weight, body mass index (BMI), and abdominal adiposity. (A) Body weight, (B) BMI, (C) abdominal visceral fat area, and (D) abdominal subcutaneous fat area. Data are presented as the mean±standard error of the mean. LMT1-48, Lactobacillus plantarum LMT1-48. aP<0.05, bP<0.01.

• 

  Fig. 2. Changes of the logarithmic mean rarefied counts of gut microbiota (A) Lactobacillus and (B) Oscillibacter after 12-week supplementation with LMT1-48 or placebo, and (C) the heatmap of the Spearman correlation coefficients between microbes and obesity-related traits. LMT1-48, Lactobacillus plantarum LMT1-48; TG, triglyceride; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; HDL-C, high density lipoprotein cholesterol; BMI, body mass index; Bwt, body weight; VFA, visceral fat area; FM, fat mass; SFA, subcutaneous fat area; FFA, free fatty acid; TC, total cholesterol; LDL-C, low density lipoprotein cholesterol. aFalse discovery rate-adjusted P<0.05.

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