The Influence of Probiotics on the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes Ratio in the Treatment of Obesity and Inflammatory Bowel disease.

2020-11-01
Microorganisms 8(11)
- Spase Stojanov
- Aleš Berlec
- Borut Štrukelj

PubMed: 33139627
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8111715

The two most important bacterial phyla in the gastrointestinal tract, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, have gained much attention in recent years. The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio is widely accepted to have an important influence in maintaining normal intestinal homeostasis. Increased or decreased F/B ratio is regarded as dysbiosis, whereby the former is usually observed with obesity, and the latter with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Probiotics as live microorganisms can confer health benefits to the host when administered in adequate amounts. There is considerable evidence of their nutritional and immunosuppressive properties including reports that elucidate the association of probiotics with the F/B ratio, obesity, and IBD. Orally administered probiotics can contribute to the restoration of dysbiotic microbiota and to the prevention of obesity or IBD. However, as the effects of different probiotics on the F/B ratio differ, selecting the appropriate species or mixture is crucial. The most commonly tested probiotics for modifying the F/B ratio and treating obesity and IBD are from the genus Lactobacillus. In this paper, we review the effects of probiotics on the F/B ratio that lead to weight loss or immunosuppression.

Research Insights

Supplement	Health Outcome	Effect Type	Effect Size
Lactobacillus salivarius UCC118	Improved Gut Microbiota Balance	Beneficial	Moderate
Lactobacillus salivarius UCC118	Reduced Incidence of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases	Beneficial	Moderate
Lactobacillus salivarius UCC118	Reduced Inflammation	Beneficial	Small
Lactobacillus salivarius UCC118	Reduced Obesity	Beneficial	Moderate
Lactobacillus salivarius UCC118	Restored Gut Microbiota Balance	Beneficial	Moderate