Specific probiotic strain in yogurt may improve glycemic control in individuals with prediabetes: Study

A recent study published in the Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism journal found promising outcomes of the probiotic strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum OLL2712 in improving glycemic control among adults with prediabetes and prevents the onset of type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes is a condition characterized by slightly increased blood glucose levels which is a significant global health concern due to its high risk of progressing to type 2 diabetes. Addressing this condition early on is crucial in the fight against the diabetes epidemic.

This study was conducted over a period of 12 weeks, with an additional 8-week follow-up to illuminate the path for integrating dietary interventions in prediabetes management. The study included a total of 148 adults who were diagnosed with prediabetes and looked into the impacts of consuming yogurt enriched with the heat-treated OLL2712 cells when compared to a placebo.

The participants were meticulously selected by ensuring a diverse group with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels that ranged from 5.6% to 6.4% and aged between 20 and 64 years. They were randomly assigned to two groups where one received conventional yogurt and the other group received yogurt containing over 5 × 10^9 OLL2712 cells daily. The primary metric for assessing the efficacy of intervention through the covariance analyzed the change in HbA1c levels at the 12th and 16th weeks.

The study unveiled that while both groups expressed a significant reduction in HbA1c and glycoalbumin levels at the 12-week mark, this improvement persisted only in the OLL2712 group by the 16th week. At weeks 12 and 16, the decrease in HbA1c levels was significantly more pronounced in the OLL2712 group when compared to the placebo that showed the potential of this strain in enhancing the glycemic control. However, by the 20th week following the discontinuation of the yogurt consumption, no significant differences were noticed between the two groups which underscore the need for continuous intake of the probiotic to maintain its beneficial effects.

These findings suggests that daily ingestion of OLL2712-enriched yogurt could play a vital role in preventing the deterioration of glycemic control in the individuals with prediabetes. Overall, the outcomes of this study highlights the potential of yogurt in contributing to glycemic regulation and could pave the way for future dietary recommendations and interventions for the early stages of diabetes

Reference:

Toshimitsu, T., Gotou, A., Sashihara, T., Hojo, K., Hachimura, S., Shioya, N., Iwama, Y., Irie, J., & Ichihara, Y. (2024). Ingesting probiotic yogurt containing Lactiplantibacillus plantarum OLL2712 improves glycaemic control in adults with prediabetes in a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial. In Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.15534