Evaluating the anti-obesity potential of Lactobacillus fermentum 4B1, a probiotic strain isolated from balao-balao, a traditional Philippine fermented food

This paper examined the anti-obesity potential of orally-administered Lactobacillus fermentum strain 4B1, a probiotic candidate isolated from balao-balao (fermented shrimp) in Central Luzon (Philippines), using histological data and changes in body weight. Parameters associated with obesity including adipose cell area, adipose tissue weight and adipose cell number were obtained and compared between groups either receiving the Lf4B1 treatment or the anti-obesity drug Orlistat (Xenical (R)) with those not receiving any treatment. Obesity was induced using a high fat diet to achieve a 34% difference of mean body weight compared to the group fed with a normal diet. The supplementation received was either L. fermentum 4B1 (5.0 x 10(8) cfu/ml at 50 ml/kg) or Orlistat (12 mg/kg) administered orally for 21 days. Adipose tissues from the abdominal region were extracted after treatment and subjected to histological examination. Changes in body weights and adipose tissue weights were also taken. Results showed that orally administered L. fermentum 4B1 significantly reduced adipose cell areas, significantly lowered body weights and significantly lowered adipose tissue weights compared to the groups which received no treatment. Interestingly, the anti-obesity effects of L. fermentum 4B1 and Orlistat were not significantly different, suggesting comparable outcomes in preventing weight gain and adiposity associated with obesity. Various studies utilizing different probiotic strains have been widely documented emphasizing the strain specificity of probiotic microbes in exerting their beneficial effects. This study described the potential benefits of a locally-isolated strain that may be utilized as a starter culture for the development of functional foods with promising anti-obesity activity. (c) All Rights Reserved