Assessment the of anti-obesity effects and safety of lactobacillus paracasei ao356

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity and associated metabolic disorders is rapidly increasing and becoming a severe health problem. Recent reports have suggested that the consumption of probiotics can be considered to be an effective approach in the treatment and prevention of obesity. In this study, we investigated the anti-obesity effect of Lactobacillus paracasei AO356 (AO356) in an obese mice model and its safety for use in functional foods. The oral administration of AO356 (107∼108 CFU/d for 10 weeks) to mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) significantly suppressed body weight gain and fat mass. Total plasma triglycerides, totalcholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol levels were significantly lower in mice that were treated with AO356 as compared with mice fed just an HFD. Also, the mice treated with AO356 exhibited a significant reduction of the insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR). To evaluate the safety of AO356, we conducted an antibiotics resistance test, a hemolytic test, and an enzymes (gelatinase, β-glucuronidase) activity test. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value for the 9 antibiotics specified in the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) guidance was below the acceptable cut-off value. In the hemolysis test, AO356 showed γ-hemolysis (non-hemolytic response) on a blood agar plate. In addition, AO356 did not produce the enzymes such as gelatinase and β-glucuronidase. Taken together, these results indicate that AO356 could be safely used as a health functional food for the prevention of antiobesity.