Supplementation with two probiotic strains, Lactobacillus curvatus HY7601 and Lactobacillus plantarum KY1032, reduced body adiposity and Lp-PLA2 activity in overweight subjects

• Probiotic group showed reductions in body weight, fat percentage and mass, and fat area, compared to baseline.
• Probiotic group exhibited greater reductions in oxidized LDL and Lp-PLA2 than placebo group.
• Probiotic group exhibited a greater increase in LDL particle size than placebo group.
• Changes in total fat mass correlated with changes in Lp-PLA2, which correlated with changes in oxidized LDL.
• Probiotic-induced weight loss was associated with reductions in fat mass and Lp-PLA2 activities.

The effect of consumption of two probiotic strains, Lactobacillus curvatus HY7601 and Lactobacillus plantarum KY1032, on weight loss, body adiposity and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) activities in overweight subjects was examined. After 12-week probiotic treatment, the probiotic group presented reductions in body weight (−0.65 ± 0.23 kg), body fat percentage (−0.57 ± 0.19%) and body fat mass (−616 ± 161 g) measured using DEXA, and L1 subcutaneous fat area (−2.68 ± 1.31 cm2) measured using CT, compared to baseline. The probiotic group exhibited greater reductions in oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) (P < 0.001) and Lp-PLA2 (P < 0.001) and a greater increase in low density lipoprotein (LDL) particle size (P = 0.001) than the placebo. The change (△, difference from baseline) in total fat mass correlated with △ Lp-PLA2 (r = 0.480, P < 0.001), which correlated with △ ox-LDL (r = 0.537, P < 0.001). Probiotic-induced weight loss was associated with reductions in fat mass, which correlated with the changes in Lp-PLA2 activities (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02492698).