They discover an intestinal bacterium that could help you lose weight

The administration of a probiotic, the bacterium Hafnia alvei, triggers the production of a molecule called ClpB that mimics an appetite suppressing hormone (alpha-MSH), that can help overweight people to lose kilos.

Dr. Pierre Déchelotte and colleagues at the Rouen University Hospital in France advised 212 overweight people on how to reduce their calorie intake by one-fifth for three months. Participants were asked to maintain their usual level of physical activity.

During the three months, approximately half of the participants also took a probiotic pill containing the intestinal bacteria Hafnia alvei, twice daily. The other participants received a placebo.

Hafnia alvei bacterium reduces appetite

The research team reported at the Targeting Microbiota 2022 conference (Paris, France), that 55% of people who took the probiotic lost at least 3% of their weight, compared to 41% of those who took the placebo.

Participants who took the probiotic reported decreased appetite during the experiment, compared to those in the placebo group.

Weight loss in this category has been associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in overweight people.

It is unknown how food intake might have been different between the two groups, but the study authors believe that the bacteria H.alvei there may be induced a feeling of satiety that caused these participants to eat less.

The researchers also cannot rule out that the bacterium has affected the way fat is broken down, which would be even more interesting. Previous studies done with mice suggest that possibility.

It is also not known whether the bacterium acts differently in each person based on genetics, the characteristics of the intestinal microbiome or metabolism.

Where is the bacterium Hafnia alvei found?

Hafnia alvei was described in 1954. It is widely distributed in nature, so that it can be found in both soils and waters, in animals and in the human intestinal microbiota.

It has been found in dairy products, vacuum-packed meats, goat meat, beef, and pork. On fewer occasions it has also been isolated in pulques (a traditional Mexican drink), in traditional dishes such as aakhone from India or kimchi from Korea. It has not been isolated so much in vegetables, although it has been found in some cases.

In the human body the bacteria Hafnia alveiit can behave as an opportunistic pathogen and cause infections. However, controlled administration is being studied if its therapeutic properties in relation to obesity are confirmed.

The first studies were carried out with laboratory animals with the strain HA4597, which managed to reduce weight and improve body composition and metabolic values ​​of sugar and fat.

For now there is no probiotic on the market with this bacterium. More research is needed to determine its mode of action and its safety.

Lose weight with a beneficial diet for the microbiota

What is known is that a balanced intestinal microbiota favors the maintenance of an adequate weight. Dr. Raphael Kellman, author of the book The Microbiome Diet states that if you increase the intake of healthy microorganisms you lose weight. In addition, the growth of bacteria that are not beneficial must be avoided.

A diet with an excess of processed foods, refined carbohydrates and added sugars unbalances the microbiota. Instead, a plant-based diet of natural and whole foods (integral) Supports the growth of healthy bacteria. Vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains provide prebiotic fiber that feeds beneficial bacteria.

They are especially recommended foods rich in a type of prebiotic fiber called inulin: asparagus, chicory root, garlic, artichoke and onions.

They are also advisable fermented foods that provide live beneficial bacteria, such as yogurt, kefir, kombucha, miso, sauerkraut, or raw kimchi.

In addition to following a good diet for the microbiota, to lose weight, food has to provide fewer calories than we are used to ingesting, but it should not be so restrictive that it cannot be maintained over time. On the other hand, physical exercise and good sleep help improve energy metabolism.