Korea successfully tested a "superbacterium" for weight loss
Some probiotics have favourable effects on the body in a number of diseases, including metabolic diseases. In South Korea, scientists have been testing the beneficial properties of lactic acid bacteria called Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SKO-001 for several years. A new clinical trial on humans has confirmed that taking a supplement with this bacterium can reduce fat content in those prone to overweight.
Earlier, Korean medical professionals reported a successful experiment with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SKO-001 on mice. This strain is isolated from the roots of the local plant Angelica gigas Nakai, which are used in traditional Chinese and Korean medicine.
Subjects were kept on a high-fat diet for a month and then given these lactic acid bacteria for 12 weeks. As a result, the animals' weight normalised, as well as lipid, cholesterol and other blood levels that were elevated after the unhealthy diet.
For the new randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, scientists recruited 100 volunteers between 19 and 60 years old with a body mass index of 25 to 30 units. This level is considered excessive and indicates a tendency toward obesity. Among the exclusion criteria were the presence of allergic reactions, serious diseases, taking drugs or supplements prescribed for obesity, and a number of others.
The participants were randomly divided into two groups: the first group took a supplement containing Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SKO-001 (one capsule per day, containing 2 × 10¹⁰ colony-forming units) for 12 weeks, and the second group took a placebo in the form of a similar capsule.
According to the results of the study, it turned out that the group that took the probiotic had markedly lower body fat percentage and weight, as well as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, than the subjects in the placebo group. In contrast, levels of the hormone adiponectin, which is involved in the regulation of glucose levels and the breakdown of fatty acids, increased after a course of lactic acid bacteria. Overall, the probiotic was well tolerated and did not cause side effects in the participants.
The authors noted that the findings are consistent with past studies on the benefits of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SKO-001. One showed increased serum adiponectin levels, reduced LDL levels, and decreased fat mass in rats after taking the probiotic. It also reduced lipid accumulation in the liver, decreased mRNA levels of lipogenic genes, α-smooth muscle actin and collagen type 1 alpha.
The findings are important given that today more than one billion people worldwide are obese. Korean scientists see great potential in using this strain of bacteria for fat reduction and weight loss, but noted the need for further research. In new experiments, the medics want to further understand the effect and mechanism of action of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SKO-001, including by analysing the microbiome.