Effect of synbiotics on weight loss and metabolic health in adults with overweight and obesity: A randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveThe study aimed to investigate the effect of synbiotics on body composition and metabolic health in individuals with excessive body weight. MethodsThe 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial had individuals aged 30 to 60 years with BMI of 25 to 34.9 kg/m(2). In total, 172 participants were randomly allocated to either synbiotic V5 or V7 groups or the placebo group. The primary outcome was change in BMI and body fat percentage. Secondary outcomes were changes in weight, other metabolic health and inflammatory markers, gastrointestinal quality of life, and eating behaviors. ResultsThe V5 and V7 groups had a significant reduction in BMI (p < 0.0001) from baseline to the end of the study, as opposed to the nonsignificant change in the placebo group (p = 0.0711). This reduction in the V5 and V7 groups was statistically significant when compared individually with the change in the placebo group (p < 0.0001). This corresponded well with the decrease in body weight with V5 and V7 (p < 0.0001). In addition, compared with placebo, the increase in high-density lipoprotein was statistically significant in the V5 (p < 0.0001) and V7 groups (p = 0.0205). A similar trend was observed in the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels, with a statistically significant decrease in the V5 (p < 0.0001) and V7 (0.0005) groups. ConclusionsThe study demonstrates that synbiotic V5 and V7 were effective in reducing body weight in individuals with lifestyle modification.