Is there a particular strain or brand recommended for weight loss?

There are two main families of good bacteria in the gut: bacteroidetes and firmicutes. Body weight seems be related to the balance of these two families of bacteria. (1,2) Both human and animal studies have found that normal-weight people have different gut bacteria than overweight or obese people. (3-5) In those studies, people with obesity had more firmicutes and fewer bacteroidetes, compared to normal-weight people. Probiotics may reduce the number of calories you absorb from food.(6,7) They also affect hormones and proteins related to appetite and fat storage, (8-10) and may also reduce inflammation, which can drive obesity.(11,12)

Of all the probiotic bacteria studied to date, Lactobacillus gasseri shows the most promising effects on weight loss, (13-17) though there is promising evidence for Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus fermentum, and Lactobacillus plantarum adding in weight loss. (18, 19) Additionally, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium breve and Bifidobacterium longum have been shown to support healthy weight management in long-term (20). Klaire Labs has a multi-strain probiotic, THER-BIOTIC® METABOLIC FORMULA, that combines these bacterial species together, which is my go-to choice for weight loss and healthy weight maintance.

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15831718
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16033867
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17183309
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19043404/
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17183312
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25884980
7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18684338/
8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23836895
9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16960169/
10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20927337
11. https://www.ffhdj.com/index.php/ffhd/article/view/2
12. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13679-014-0124-9
13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18684338/
14. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23917447/
15. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17977471
16. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25884980
17. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20216555
18. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24299712
19. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464612001399
20. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2904885/

This question was answered by Leah Linder, ND.