Probiotic Influences Insulin Resistance after Over-Eating
A study published in February 2015 indicates that probiotic supplementation supports insulin sensitivity after over-eating. Low insulin sensitivity is known as insulin resistance, which is a condition in which larger amounts of insulin is required to keep blood glucose stable.
The investigators randomly assigned 17 healthy subjects to receive a fermented milk drink with the probiotic Lactobacillus casei Shirota twice daily for four weeks or no supplementation as the control group. The researchers instructed the subjects to maintain their normal diet for the first three weeks of the study. During the fourth week of the study, the subjects ingested a high-fat (65% of energy), high-energy (50% increase in energy intake) diet. The researchers assessed insulin sensitivity using the oral glucose tolerance test before and after the week where the subjects ate the high-fat and high-energy diet.
The investigators showed that body mass index increased in the control group by 0.6 kg and increased in the probiotic group by 0.3 kg. In the control group, fasting plasma glucose levels increased from 5.3 mmol/L prior to the over-feeding week to 5.6 mmol/L after the week of over-feeding. The control group also had a 10% increase of glucose area under the curve (AUC) and a decrease in whole-body insulin sensitivity by 27% after the week of over-feeding. In the probiotic group, normal insulin sensitivity was maintained before and after the week of over-feeding.
The researchers concluded, “These results suggest that probiotic supplementation may be useful in the prevention of diet-induced metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes.”
Reference:
Hulston CJ, et al. Br J Nutr. 2015;113:596-602.
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