Anti-Obesity Effect of Bifidobacterium lactis IDCC 4301 (B. lactis Fit™) via Modulation of Lipid Metabolism in Mice and Humans
Introduction
Obesity is a metabolic disease that causes an imbalance in energy metabolism resulting in abnormal or excessive fat accumulation. In this study, the anti-obesity effect of Bifidobacterium lactis IDCC 4301 (B. lactis Fit™) was evaluated in mice and humans.
Objective
Bifidobacterium lactis IDCC 4301 (B. lactis Fit™) has demonstrated anti-obesity effects by modulating lipid metabolism in both animal and human models.
Method
Pancreatic lipase inhibition activity and cholesterol reduction ability were evaluated for selection of probiotic bacterium with anti-obesity potential. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were treated with B. lactis Fit™ to evaluate its effects on adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation. Mice were fed a high-fat diet and given oral B. lactis Fit™ for 12 weeks, after which body weight, fat mass, serum lipid levels, and expression of adipogenesis-related genes were assessed. Body weight, fat mass, serum lipids, and adipogenesis-related gene expressions were evaluated. In a 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 99 overweight womens (BMI 25–30 kg/m²) received either B. lactis Fit™ (>5.0 × 10⁹ CFU/day) or placebo. Body fat mass, serum lipid profiles, adipokines, and BMI were measured at baseline and post-intervention.
Results
Bifidobacterium lactis IDCC 4301 showed the best pancreatic lipase inhibition activity and cholesterol reduction ability, and was selected as a candidate for anti-obesity among the five strains. B. lactis Fit™ significantly inhibited lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells by downregulating adipogenic enzymes. In HFD-fed mice, it reduced body weight (p< 0.01), adipose tissue weight (p< 0.05), and serum triglycerides (p< 0.05), and downregulated adipogenic mRNA expression. The adipocyte sizes (p< 0.001) in probiotic group significantly decreased compared to the HFD group. In humans, B. lactis Fit™ supplementation significantly decreased total fat (p = 0.0407), trunk fat (p = 0.0200), and serum triglycerides (p = 0.0088) compared to placebo. Within-group analysis showed significant reductions in BMI (p = 0.0009) and leg fat (p = 0.0006) only in the probiotic group. A positive correlation was found between changes in fat mass and the log leptin/adiponectin ratio (r = 0.371, p = 0.0112).
Conclusion
B. lactis Fit™ has anti-obesity potential by regulating lipid metabolism in both animal and human models. It effectively reduces body weight, body fat, and triglyceride levels. These findings support its potential as a functional ingredient for obesity management.
Patent Registration - Composition for reducing body fat comprising Bifidobacterium lactis IDCC 4301/10-2445708 (KOR)
Clinical Trial Registration - This clinical study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Kyung Hee University Hospital (no. KHUH 2022-01-069) and registered at CRIS (KCT0007425).