Probiotic supplements during the first trimester of pregnancy may help women lose weight after the infant’s birth, say Finnish researchers.
They report that supplements containing Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium were associated with less central obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more or a waist circumference over 80 centimetres. Women were given probiotics during the first trimester of pregnancy and continued until they stopped exclusive breastfeeding, up to 6 months.
Probiotics are defined as “live microorganisms that confer health benefits when consumed.
A previous study found that microbial populations in the gut are different between obese and lean people, and that when the obese people lost weight their microflora reverted back to that observed in a lean person.
[Source]
Chapter: Probiotics :: 22 July 2009
