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 .
Effect of Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055 in fermented milk on abdominal adiposity in adults in a randomised controlled trial.
Consumption of fermented milk ( FM ) containing a probiotic , Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055 ( LG2055 ) , previously showed a reduction in abdominal adiposity in a r and omised controlled trial ( RCT ) using FM with 10(8 ) colony-forming units ( cfu ) of LG2055/g . However , whether the effectiveness is observed at lower concentrations , the recommended minimum or intermediate levels of probiotics ( 10(6 ) or 10(7 ) cfu/g , respectively ) , remains to be examined . A multi-centre , double-blind , parallel-group RCT was conducted using 210 healthy Japanese adults with large visceral fat areas ( 80·2 - 187·8 cm(2 ) ) . They were balanced for their baseline characteristics and r and omly assigned to three groups receiving FM containing 10(7 ) , 10(6 ) or 0 ( control ) cfu LG2055/g of FM , and were asked to consume 200 g FM/d for 12 weeks . Abdominal visceral fat areas , which were determined by computed tomography , at week 12 , changed from baseline by an average of -8·5 % ( 95 % CI -11·9 , -5·1 ; P < 0·01 ) in the 10(7 ) dose group , and by -8·2 % ( 95 % CI -10·8 , -5·7 ; P < 0·01 ) in the 10(6 ) dose group . Other measures including BMI , waist and hip circumferences , and body fat mass were also significantly decreased from baseline at week 12 in both groups ; interestingly , the cessation of taking FM for 4 weeks attenuated these effects . In the control group , none of these parameters significantly decreased from baseline . These findings demonstrate that consumption of LG2055 at doses as low as the order of 10(8 ) cfu/d exhibited a significant lowering effect on abdominal adiposity , and suggest that constant consumption might be needed to maintain the effect
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 .