Oral spore-based probiotic supplementation was associated with reduced incidence of post-prandial dietary endotoxin, triglycerides, and disease risk biomarkers.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Randomized controlled trial
PubMed 28868181 · doi:10.4291/wjgp.v8.i3.117
What was done
Seventy-five apparently healthy adults were screened for post-prandial dietary endotoxemia, defined as a 5-fold or greater increase in serum endotoxin 5 hours after a meal challenge. Individuals meeting this responder criterion were randomized to 30 days of either a multi-species spore-based probiotic supplement (Bacillus indicus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus licheniformis, and Bacillus clausii) or a rice flour placebo. Serum endotoxin, triglycerides, and secondary inflammatory biomarkers (IL-12p70, IL-1β, ghrelin) were measured before and after the 30-day intervention.
What was found
Probiotic supplementation resulted in a 42% post-prandial endotoxin reduction (12.9 ± 3.5 vs 6.1 ± 2.6, P = 0.011) and a 24% triglyceride reduction (212 ± 28 vs 138 ± 12, P = 0.004). Placebo participants had a 36% increase in endotoxin (10.3 ± 3.4 vs 15.4 ± 4.1, P = 0.011) and a 5% drop in triglycerides (191 ± 24 vs 186 ± 28, P = 0.004). Probiotics also significantly decreased post-prandial IL-12p70 (24.3 ± 2.2 vs 21.5 ± 1.7, P = 0.017) and IL-1β (1.9 ± 0.2 vs 1.6 ± 0.1, P = 0.020), and resulted in lower post-supplementation ghrelin compared to placebo (6.8 ± 0.4 vs 8.3 ± 1.1, P = 0.017).
Why it matters
This study provides evidence that oral spore-forming Bacillus strains can reduce meal-triggered endotoxin translocation and related post-prandial lipid and cytokine elevations in susceptible individuals.
Limits
The total randomized sample size is not stated (75 were screened, but only an unspecified subset met the responder threshold). The study intentionally selected only high-responder individuals, limiting applicability to the general population. The 30-day intervention was short, and direct clinical disease endpoints were not evaluated.
Cited by
- partial A published 30-day randomized controlled trial of a spore-based probiotic formula showed a 75% reduction in post-meal endotoxemia/LPS.
- partial In a 30-day trial of a spore-based probiotic formula, participants consuming a 2,000-calorie meal experienced a 60% to 70% drop in postprandial ghrelin levels along with a significant increase in leptin.
- context Screening of healthy, normal-BMI adults in their mid-20s showed that approximately 55% had elevated LPS levels indicative of profound leaky gut.