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Probiotics’ effect on visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 76, pages 1646–1656 (2022)Cite this article

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Abstract

Probiotics are shown to alter the microbiota, leading to a favorable environment, in which weight loss and metabolic parameters are improve. However, the results on probiotics’ effect on specific types of central adipose tissues, mainly visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), are conflicting. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review, aimed to evaluate the effects of probiotics on VAT and SAT. PubMed, SCOPUS, EBSCO, and LILACS databases were searched for studies that investigated the effect of probiotics on VAT and SAT. Fixed effects were used to calculate the pooled difference in means (DM) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Fourteen publications met the inclusion criteria, which consisted of 1523 participants. For VAT, overall, there was a significant decrease (DM = −3.63 cm2, 95% CI: −5.08 to −2.17, p < 0.001). When stratified by type of probiotic, single Bifidobacterium (DM = −4.49 cm2, 95% CI:−7.37 to −1.61, p = 0.002) and single Lactobacillus probiotics (DM = −3.84 cm2, 95% CI:−5.74 to −1.93, p < 0.001) resulted in significant reductions. Mixed probiotics had no effect. For SAT, overall, there was a significant decrease (DM = −2.91 cm2, 95% CI:−4.82 to −1.01, p = 0.003), and when stratified by type of probiotic, single Lactobacillus (DM = −3.39 cm2, 95% CI:−5.90 to −0.88, p = 0.008) and mixed probiotics (DM = −5.97 cm2, 95% CI:−10.32 to −1.62, p = 0.007) resulted in a significant decrease. Single Bifidobacterium probiotics had no effect. Using meta-regression, no association was observed between the total daily probiotic dose and VAT or SAT reduction. This study shows that probiotics have a beneficial effect on central adiposity. Single Lactobacillus-based probiotics reduced VAT and SAT, whereas Bifidobacterium-based probiotics reduce VAT.

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Fig. 1
Fig. 2: Probiotic treatment led to reduced visceral adipose tissue (VAT).
Fig. 3: Probiotic treatment led to reduced subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT).

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All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article and its supplement information files.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their gratitude to Mtro. Ricardo Villegas Tovar, Coordinator of Scientific Production and International Visibility, BUAP.

Funding

This work was supported by grants from the Programa para el Desarrollo Profesional Docente (CA-160 FACMED) and the Vicerrectorıa de Investigacion, Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla, Mexico (GOMM-SAL21-G). The funders had no role in the study’s design, data collection or analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Fisiopatología en Enfermedades Crónicas, Centro de investigación Biomédica de Oriente, IMSS. Delegación Puebla, Carretera Federal Atlixco Metepec Km. 4.5, Colonia Centro, C.P, 74360, Atlixco, Puebla, México

    Leonardo M. Porchia & Ricardo Pérez-Fuentes

  2. Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Carretera Federal Tlaxcala, Puebla. S/N; Km. 1.5, Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, 90062, Mexico

    Gabriela Vazquez-Marroquin

  3. Facultad de Medicina, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla. Calle 13 Sur 2901, Colonia Volcanes, C.P. 72420, Puebla, Puebla, México

    Renata Ochoa-Précoma, Ricardo Pérez-Fuentes & M. Elba Gonzalez-Mejia

Authors
  1. Leonardo M. Porchia
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  2. Gabriela Vazquez-Marroquin
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  3. Renata Ochoa-Précoma
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  4. Ricardo Pérez-Fuentes
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  5. M. Elba Gonzalez-Mejia
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Contributions

LMP was responsible for designing the review protocol, writing the protocol, conducting the search, screening potentially eligible studies, extracting and analyzing data, interpreting results, the meta-regression analyses, updating reference lists, creating’ Summary of findings’ tables, and writing the report. GVM was responsible for conducting the search, screening potentially eligible studies, analyzing data, interpreting results, and writing the report. RGER was responsible screening potentially eligible studies, extracting and analyzing data, interpreting results, and writing the report. RPF was responsible for writing the protocol and provided feedback on the report. MEGM was responsible for designing the review protocol, writing the protocol, conducting the search, screening potentially eligible studies, arbitrating potentially eligible studies, interpreting results, making the artwork, updating reference lists, provided feedback on the report, and writing the report.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Elba Gonzalez-Mejia.

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Porchia, L.M., Vazquez-Marroquin, G., Ochoa-Précoma, R. et al. Probiotics’ effect on visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Eur J Clin Nutr 76, 1646–1656 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-022-01135-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-022-01135-0

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