Effects of the probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum IMC 510® on body composition, biochemical parameters, gut microbiota composition and function, and clinical symptoms of overweight/obese subjects

Giuditta Pagliai; Maria Magdalena Coman; Simone Baldi; Monica Dinu; Giulia Nannini; Edda Russo; Lavinia Curini; Barbara Colombini; Sofia Lotti; Marco Pallecchi; Leandro Di Gloria; Gianluca Bartolucci; Matteo Ramazzotti; Maria Cristina Verdenelli; Francesco Sofi; Amedeo Amedei

doi:10.3389/fnut.2023.1142527

Effects of the probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum IMC 510® on body composition, biochemical parameters, gut microbiota composition and function, and clinical symptoms of overweight/obese subjects

Front Nutr. 2023 Apr 11:10:1142527. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1142527. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Giuditta Pagliai¹, Maria Magdalena Coman², Simone Baldi¹, Monica Dinu¹, Giulia Nannini¹, Edda Russo¹, Lavinia Curini¹, Barbara Colombini¹, Sofia Lotti¹, Marco Pallecchi³, Leandro Di Gloria⁴, Gianluca Bartolucci³, Matteo Ramazzotti⁴, Maria Cristina Verdenelli², Francesco Sofi^{1

5}, Amedeo Amedei^{1

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
² Synbiotec S.r.l, Camerino, Italy.
³ Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
⁴ Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
⁵ Unit of Clinical Nutrition, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
⁶ Interdisciplinary Internal Medicine Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.

Abstract

Background and aim: In recent decades, obesity prevalence has reached epidemic proportions and considering the pivotal role of gut microbiota (GM) in the regulation of energy balance, alternative non-pharmacological approaches involving probiotics' administration have been proposed. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum IMC 510® supplementation on anthropometric and biochemical parameters, GM composition and functionality, and gastrointestinal and general symptoms of overweight/obese subjects.

Methods: Forty overweight/obese subjects were randomly assigned to daily consume the probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum IMC 510® or placebo for 3 months. Before and after the administration period, anthropometric and biochemical parameters, self-administered questionnaires, and plasma and stool samples were obtained from each participant. The GM characterization was performed with 16S rRNA sequencing, while fecal short (SCFAs) and medium (MCFAs) chain fatty acids were analyzed with a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry protocol.

Results: Compared to placebo, probiotic supplementation determined a significant decrease in body weight, BMI, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, and blood glucose. Moreover, probiotic administration produced a significant decrease of the genera Hafnia-Obesumbacterium and Romboutsia and an increase of Succiniclasticum spp.; conversely, placebo administration resulted in the decrease of Actinomycetaceae and an increase of both Alloprevotella spp. and of the levels of pro-inflammatory hexanoic and heptanoic acids.

Conclusion: Thanks to its effect in increasing some beneficial gut bacteria and lowering effects on waist circumference, fasting glucose levels and gastrointestinal symptoms of obese subjects, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum IMC 510® supplementation could represent a future and encouraging strategy for the prevention or treatment of obesity.

Keywords: Lactiplantibacillus plantarum IMC 510®; clinical trial; gut microbiota; obesity; probiotic supplementation.