Can prebiotic supplements help with weight management?

Prebiotic supplements have been found to have numerous health benefits, one of which is their ability to aid in weight management. Here are the reasons why:

• Regulation of appetite hormones: Prebiotics have been found to regulate the production of hormones that control appetite, such as ghrelin and leptin. These hormones play a key role in determining the feeling of hunger and fullness. Studies have shown that prebiotic supplementation can lead to reduced levels of ghrelin, the hunger hormone, and increased levels of leptin, the hormone that signals fullness. This can lead to a reduction in food intake, and thus aid in weight management.
• Improved glucose metabolism: Prebiotic supplements have also been found to improve glucose metabolism, which can contribute to weight management. By promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, prebiotics can increase the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which have been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance. This can help prevent the development of insulin resistance, which is a risk factor for weight gain and obesity.
• Reduced inflammation: Chronic inflammation has been linked to obesity and metabolic disorders, such as insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Prebiotic supplements can help reduce inflammation in the body by promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, which can reduce the population of harmful bacteria that contribute to inflammation. In addition, prebiotics can increase the production of SCFAs, which have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.
• Increased satiety: Prebiotic supplements can increase feelings of fullness and satiety, which can help with weight management. This is because prebiotics are fermented in the gut by beneficial bacteria, which produce SCFAs that can activate receptors in the gut that signal fullness. Additionally, prebiotics can slow the emptying of the stomach, which can lead to increased feelings of fullness and reduce overall food intake.
• Reduced fat storage: Prebiotics have also been found to reduce fat storage in the body, which can contribute to weight management. This is because prebiotics can increase the production of SCFAs, which can promote the oxidation of fatty acids and reduce the storage of fat in adipose tissue. In addition, prebiotics can reduce the absorption of dietary fat, which can further reduce the amount of fat stored in the body.

About Layer Origin: At Layer Origin, we are dedicated to unlocking the potential of Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs). We believe that only God's gift could be so perfectly designed to support our gut health. Our goal is to make this super prebiotic available for both children and adults. Check out PureHMO and SuperHMO Prebiotics

References:

Cani, P.D., & de Vos, W.M. (2017). Next-generation beneficial microbes: the case of Akkermansia muciniphila. Frontiers in microbiology, 8, 1765. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01765

Cani, P.D., Neyrinck, A.M., Maton, N., Delzenne, N.M. (2005). Oligofructose promotes satiety in healthy human: a pilot study. European journal of clinical nutrition, 59(2), 983-989. doi: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602199

Holscher, H.D. (2017). Dietary fiber and prebiotics and the gastrointestinal microbiota. Gut microbes, 8(2), 172-184. doi: 10.1080/19490976.2017.1290756

Salazar, N., Gueimonde, M., Hernandez-Barranco, A.M., Ruas-Madiedo, P., de los Reyes-Gavilan, C.G. (2016). Exopolysaccharides produced by Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains abrogate in vitro the cytotoxic effect of bacterial toxins on eukaryotic cells. Journal of applied microbiology, 120(4), 952-960. doi: 10.1111/jam.13059

Wu, G.D., Chen, J., Hoffmann, C., Bittinger, K., Chen, Y.Y., Keilbaugh, S.A., Bewtra, M., Knights, D., Walters, W.A., Knight, R., Sinha, R., Gilroy, E., Gupta, K., Baldassano, R., Nessel, L., Li, H., Bushman, F.D., Lewis, J.D. (2011). Linking long-term dietary patterns with gut microbial enterotypes. Science, 334(6052), 105-108. doi: 10.1126/science.1208344