Effects of synbiotic supplementation on anthropometric indices and body composition in overweight or obese children and adolescents: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND: Recently, beneficial effects of probiotics and/or prebiotics on cardio-metabolic risk factors in adults have been shown. However, existing evidence has not been fully established for pediatric age groups. This study aimed to assess the effect of synbiotic on anthropometric indices and body composition in overweight or obese children and adolescents. METHODS: This randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted among 60 participants aged 8–18 years with a body mass index (BMI) equal to or higher than the 85th percentile. Participants were randomly divided into two groups that received either a synbiotic capsule containing 6 × 10(9) colony forming units (CFU) Lactobacillus coagulans SC-208, 6 × 10(9) CFU Lactobacillus indicus HU36 and fructooligosaccharide as a prebiotic (n = 30) or a placebo (n = 30) twice a day for eight weeks. Anthropometric indices and body composition were measured at baseline and after the intervention. RESULTS: The mean (standard deviation, SD) age was 11.07 (2.00) years and 11.23 (2.37) years for the placebo and synbiotic groups, respectively (P = 0.770). The waist-height ratio (WHtR) decreased significantly at the end of the intervention in comparison with baseline in the synbiotic group (0.54 ± 0.05 vs. 0.55 ± 0.05, P = 0.05). No significant changes were demonstrated in other anthropometric indices or body composition between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Synbiotic supplementation might be associated with a reduction in WHtR. There were no significant changes in other anthropometric indices or body composition.