Taking probiotics, such as yoghurt, may help pregnant women tackle the curse of weight gain after giving birth, researchers reported yesterday.
A team the University of Turku, Finland, looked at the effect of probiotics, or “healthy bacteria” on weight gain. Previous research indicated that bacteria in the intestines might play a role in controlling weight, and that adjusting the balance could be beneficial.
In the study, 256 women were given dietary advice and fortified foods with either capsules of probiotics (Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium) or placebo capsules, or just placebo capsules.
The capsules were taken from the beginning of pregnancy until the women stopped exclusive breastfeeding, up to six months, when the women were weighed and measured.
Of particular interest to the researchers was the impact on fat around the waste. A measure known as central obesity is defined as a body mass index of 30 or more or a waist circumference over 80cm. The rate of central obesity was 25 per cent among women given diet advice plus probiotics, 43 per cent of women given diet advice plus placebo, and 40 per cent given just placebo.
Dr Kirsi Laitinen and colleagues report: “The results of our study, the first to demonstrate the impact of probiotics-supplemented dietary counselling on adiposity, were encouraging.
“The women who got the probiotics fared best. One year after childbirth, they had the lowest levels of central obesity as well as the lowest body fat percentage. Central obesity, where overall obesity is combined with a particularly fat belly, is considered especially unhealthy.
“There is growing evidence that this approach might open a new angle on the fight against obesity, either through prevention or treatment.”
Dr Laitinen presented the findings yesterday (May 7) at the European Congress on Obesity.
17th European Congress on Obesity, held from May 6-9, 2009, in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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