Clinical Efficacy
B-3: Weight Management Probiotics
B-3 reduces body fat and improves metabolic disorders
Obesity is becoming a global epidemic and a major contributor to the increased incidence of serious chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hepatic and skeletal muscle insulin resistance and certain types of cancer. An imbalance between food intake and energy expenditure, both of which coexist with unhealthy lifestyles, is the most frequent cause of obesity. However, intestinal factors (gut microbiota composition and barrier function) seem to play a crucial role as well in causing obesity and its associated metabolic complications, raising the possibility of probiotic administration as a therapeutic approach. B-3 was found to exhibit anti-obesity effect[1].
In 52 adults with BMI ranging from 24 to 30 kg/m2, consumption of B-3 capsules (50 billion CFU/day) for 12 weeks significantly lowered fat mass as compared to placebo control. Blood parameters related to liver functions and inflammation such as γ-glutamyltranspeptidase and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were better improved in B-3 group. Such improvements were significantly correlated with the reduction of fat mass in B-3 group, suggesting the beneficial potential of B-3 in improving metabolic disorders.
Reference:
- 1Minami, J.I., Kondo, S., Yanagisawa, N., Odamaki, T., Xiao, J.Z., Abe, F., Nakajima, S., Hamamoto, Y., Saitoh, S. and Shimoda, T., 2015. Oral administration of Bifidobacterium breve B-3 modifies metabolic functions in adults with obese tendencies in a randomised controlled trial. Journal of Nutritional Science, 4.
B-3 reduces body fat and improves healthy living
Another clinical study involving 80 pre-obese (BMI 25-30 kg/m2 ) adults revealed that administration of B-3 (20 billion CFU/day) for 12 weeks significantly reduced the rate of change in body fat mass and percent body fat as compared to placebo group at week 8 and 12. The intake of B-3 also slightly decreased triglyceride levels and improved HDL cholesterol from the baseline.
These results suggest that B-3 has potential as a functional food ingredient to reduce body fat in healthy pre-obese individuals and improve healthy living.
Reference:
- 1Minami, J., Iwabuchi, N., Tanaka, M., Yamauchi, K., Xiao, J.Z., Abe, F. and Sakane, N., 2018. Effects of Bifidobacterium breve B-3 on body fat reductions in pre-obese adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Bioscience of Microbiota, Food and Health, pp.18-001.
Potential mechanism of action of B-3
Numerous studies have been deployed to understand the mechanisms by which B-3 reduces body fat and improve healthy living. Long-term intake of high fat diet could result in changes in gut microbiome and promote gut barrier dysfunction, leading to chronic low-grade inflammation and conditions prevalent to obesity and metabolic syndrome.
In contrary, continuous intake of B-3 may improve gut microbial balance and stimulate fat metabolism. B-3 and its metabolites (e.g. acetic acid) could aid in improving gut barrier function and ultimately repressing chronic inflammation. This, in turn, leads to improvement of insulin resistance and inhibition of metabolic syndrome and obesity.