Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Dec 22, 2024 4 hours, 15 minutes ago
Weight Loss News: Obesity is one of the world’s leading health problems today. It occurs when the body stores excess fat due to an imbalance between food intake and energy expenditure. This condition is often linked to several health risks such as diabetes, heart disease, liver problems, and even some types of cancer. Experts are constantly looking for safer and more effective ways to address obesity, and new research has shown that combining probiotics with natural plant extracts may hold promise.
Graphical Abstract: Synergistic effects of probiotics and Banaba leaves in reducing obesity
In a recent study, a research team from hy Co., Ltd. in Yongin-si, Republic of Korea investigated whether probiotics made of specific Lactobacillus strains combined with Lagerstroemia speciosa leaf extract could help prevent obesity. This
Weight Loss News report explores the findings and explains why this combination could be an effective tool for weight management.
Key components: probiotics and Banaba leaves
The study focused on a mixture of two specific probiotics: Lactobacillus curvatus HY7601 and Lactobacillus plantarum KY1032. These probiotics are types of Lactobacillus bacteria, which are often referred to as “good bacteria.” They are well known for supporting gut health and have also been shown to help reduce body weight in previous studies.
In addition to probiotics, the study used an extract from the Lagerstroemia speciosa plant, commonly known as Banaba. Native to Southeast Asia, Banaba leaves have been used for centuries in traditional medicine to treat diabetes because of their ability to regulate blood sugar levels. The extract contains corosolic acid, an active compound that can help improve metabolism and insulin sensitivity.
This combination - probiotics and Banaba leaf extract - was tested on mice that were fed a high-fat diet to induce obesity. The goal was to see whether the combination would reduce weight gain and improve other health markers.
Study design: a closer look
Researchers divided the mice into several groups for a period of five weeks:
-Normal diet group (control group)
-High-fat diet group (to simulate obesity)
-High-fat diet group with probiotics
-High-fat diet group with Banaba leaf extract
-High-fat diet group with probiotics and Banaba leaf extract combined
By the end of the five weeks, the results were clear: the group that received the combination of probiotics and Banaba leaf extract showed the most significant improvements in weight, fat reduction, and metabolic health.
Key findings: reduced fat and better health
-Weight reduction
Mice fed a high-fat diet gained a significant amount of weight. However, the group receiving both probiotics and Banaba leaf extract gained far less weight compared to other groups. Interestingly, this effect occurred
without any change in food intake.
-Smaller fat tissues
Researchers analyzed the mice’s fat tissue, specifically the inguinal (hip) and epididymal (belly) fat. These tissues were much larger in the high-fat diet group. However, the mice treated with probiotics and Banaba leaf extract had smaller fat tissues and fewer large fat cells.
-Improved cholesterol and blood sugar
The combination treatment significantly lowered triglycerides (blood fats) and total cholesterol. In addition, it helped reduce blood glucose (sugar) levels and insulin resistance, which are key indicators of metabolic health.
-Adipogenic gene expression
Adipogenesis refers to the formation of fat cells, a process controlled by specific genes. The researchers found that the probiotics and Banaba leaf extract reduced the expression of genes such as PPARγ, CEBPα, and FABP4, which are involved in fat storage and fat cell formation. This means the combination treatment worked at a deeper, genetic level to prevent fat accumulation.
-Better liver health
Obesity often causes fat to accumulate in the liver, leading to inflammation and poor liver function. The study showed that mice treated with probiotics and Banaba leaf extract had lower levels of liver enzymes (ALT and AST), which indicates healthier liver function.
Why this study matters
Obesity is often linked to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, which increase the risk of diabetes and other chronic diseases. This study demonstrates that a combination of probiotics and natural plant extracts can improve these conditions in a safe and effective way. The probiotics not only altered gut health but also reduced fat accumulation and improved glucose metabolism. Meanwhile, the corosolic acid in Banaba leaf extract further boosted these effects.
These findings are particularly important because they offer a natural alternative to existing obesity treatments, which often come with side effects. Both probiotics and Banaba leaf extract are safe for consumption and could be developed into functional foods or supplements that can be incorporated into daily diets.
Conclusions
In summary, this study reveals that combining Lactobacillus curvatus HY7601 and Lactobacillus plantarum KY1032 with Lagerstroemia speciosa leaf extract has powerful anti-obesity effects. This combination reduced weight gain, decreased fat tissue size, improved cholesterol levels, and enhanced insulin sensitivity in high-fat diet-fed mice. The effects were more significant when the two components were used together than when they were used separately, highlighting their synergistic relationship.
This discovery provides a promising new approach for the prevention and management of obesity and its related metabolic problems. Future studies may focus on testing this combination in humans to confirm its safety and effectiveness on a larger scale.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: Biology
https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/13/12/1047
For the latest
Weight Loss News, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/adzuki-bean-extract-may-offer-new-hope-for-obesity-management
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/west-african-plant-secamone-afzelii-emerges-as-a-promising-natural-solution-for-obesity
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/weight-loss-news
Share
Tweet
Share
