A greater reduction in BMI was found with multiple species of probiotics .
Consuming probiotics  could reduce body weight and BMI , with a potentially greater effect when multiple species of probiotics were consumed , the duration of intervention was ≥8 weeks , or the objects were overweight
OBJECTIVE To assess the efficacy of probiotic therapies on body weight and BMI  using a meta- analysis of r and omized , controlled trials .
A randomized double-blind controlled trial: impact of probiotics on diarrhea in patients treated with pelvic radiation.
BACKGROUND & AIMS Radical radiation therapy is commonly used for treatment of pelvic cancer . Up to 80 % of patients receiving radiotherapy will develop acute radiation induced diarrhea . The primary aim of this r and omized double blind controlled trial is to evaluate the effect of the probiotic Bifilact ( ® ) on moderate and severe treatment-induced diarrhea during pelvic radiation . METHODS Patients with pelvic cancers were treated between 2006 and 2010 at L'Hôtel-Dieu de Québec , University Health Center . Some patients had surgery before pelvic radiotherapy and some received chemotherapy .  A total of 246 Patients were r and omized between a placebo and either of two regiments of double strain Bifilact ( ® ) probiotics ( Lactobacillus acidophilus LAC-361 and Bifidobacterium longum BB-536 ) : a st and ard dose twice a day ( 1.3 billion CFU ) or a high dose three times a day ( 10 billion CFU ) . Patients were trained to record their digestive symptoms daily with a st and ardized scale and they met a registered dietician and radiation oncologist every week during treatment . The main analysis compared time to first appearance of grade ≥2 - 3 - 4 diarrhea using Kaplan-Meier curves as measured by proportion of patients without moderate and severe diarrhea . RESULTS 229 patients were analyzed . The difference between the groups for overall grade 2 - 3 - 4 diarrhea was not statistically significant ( p = 0.13 ) . However at 60 days , the proportion of patients without moderate and severe diarrhea in the st and ard dose group ( 35 % ) was more than twice as high as that of the placebo group ( 17 % ) with a hazard ratio of 0.69 ( p = 0.04 ) . In patients who had surgery , the st and ard probiotics dose group had a better proportion of patients without very severe diarrhea than the placebo group , respectively 97 % and 74 % ( p = 0.03 ) . In all groups , the average number of bowel movements per day during treatment was less than 3 soft stools ( p = 0.80 ) and the median abdominal pain less than 1 based on the National Cancer Institute scale ( p = 0.23 ) . CONCLUSION St and ard dose of Bifilact ( ® ) may reduce radiation induced grade 2 - 3 - 4 diarrhea at the end of the treatment of patients with pelvic cancer . In patients operated on before RT , a st and ard dose of probiotics may reduce radiation induced grade 4 diarrhea . Nutritional interventions by a registered dietician seemed to reduce global digestive symptoms . TRIAL REGISTRATION clinical trials.gov . Identifier NCT01839721
A greater reduction in BMI was found with multiple species of probiotics .
Consuming probiotics  could reduce body weight and BMI , with a potentially greater effect when multiple species of probiotics were consumed , the duration of intervention was ≥8 weeks , or the objects were overweight
OBJECTIVE To assess the efficacy of probiotic therapies on body weight and BMI  using a meta- analysis of r and omized , controlled trials .