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 .
Impact of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 and, Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5-containing yoghurt, on fecal bacterial counts of healthy adults.
This r and omized , placebo-controlled , double blind , parallel dose-response study investigated the impact of 4-week commercial yoghurt consumption supplemented with Bifidobacterium animalis subsp . lactis ( BB-12 ) and Lactobacillus acidophilus ( LA-5 ) on fecal bacterial counts of healthy adults . Fifty-eight volunteers were r and omly assigned to three different groups : 1 . placebo ( no probiotic , no starter and no green tea extract ) ; 2 . Yoptimal ( 10(9)cfu/100 g of BB-12 and LA-5 and 40 mg of green tea extract ) and 3 . Yoptimal-10 ( 10(10)cfu/100 g of BB-12 , 10(9)cfu/100 g of LA-5 and 40 mg of green tea extract ) . These yoghurt products also contained Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp . bulgaricus ( 10(7)cfu/100 g ) and Streptococcus thermophilus ( 10(10)cfu/100 g ) . The quantitative PCR ( qPCR ) results showed that there were significant increases ( P=0.02 ) in bifidobacteria counts with the Yoptimal treatment as compared to baseline . The fecal numbers of B. animalis subsp . lactis and LA-5 significantly increased in the two probiotic treatments compared to the placebo treatment . Viable counts of fecal lactobacilli were significantly higher ( P=0.05 ) and those of enterococci were significantly lower ( P=0.04 ) after the intervention when compared to placebo . No significant difference was observed between treatments in volunteers ' weight , waist girth , blood pressure , fasting plasma triglyceride and HDL-C concentrations , as well as cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio . However , a significant increase in plasma cholesterol levels was observed in the placebo group ( P=0.0018 ) but the levels remained stable in the two probiotic yoghurt groups . These results show that probiotic strains supplemented in the form of yoghurt remain active during gut transit and are associated with an increase in beneficial bacteria and a reduction in potentially pathogenic bacteria . This trial was registered at clinical trials.gov as NCT00730626
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 .