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Microbes & Immunity

REVIEW ARTICLE
The role of Lactobacillus in combination

with Bifidobacterium strains in mitigating
obesity-related effects: A systematic review of

studies in mice and humans

1†
1
1†
Krishnaraj Narayanan , Jz Kamille Eclarin , Alec Arbona ,
and Nagendran Tharmalingam *
2,3
1 Department of Natural Science, College of Science and Technology, University of Houston-
Downtown, Houston, Texas, United States of America
2 Department of Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas, United States of
America
3 Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, United States
of America

Abstract

Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference are regarded as early risk assessment
† These authors contributed equally factors for cardiometabolic comorbidities such as obesity, cardiovascular disease,
to this work.
and weight-related cancer. Specifically, obesity is a result of an imbalance of energy
*Corresponding author: intake and expenditure and is usually determined by BMI. According to the Obesity
Nagendran Tharmalingam
(ntharmalingam@ Medicine Association Clinical Practice Statement, the adolescent obesity rate in the
houstonmethodist.org) United States has drastically increased in the last 30 years affecting more than 20%
Citation: Narayanan K, Eclarin JK, adolescents. Addressing the rising rate of obesity has provided extensive research
Arbona A, Tharmalingam N. The that suggests a strong link between gut microbiota phyla and the alleviation of
role of Lactobacillus in combination obesity-related challenges. While a balanced lifestyle is the main recommendation
with Bifidobacterium strains in
mitigating obesity-related effects: to prevent and treat obesity, curative therapy is the goal. Research suggests that
A systematic review of studies in the human gut microbiota can help protect from pathogens, enhance the immune
mice and humans. Microbes & system, support digestion and metabolism, control epithelial cell proliferation
Immunity. 2025;2(2):34-45.
doi: 10.36922/mi.8358 and differentiation, modify insulin resistance and its secretion, and positively
influence brain-gut communication This complex relationship suggests a strong
Received: January 1, 2025 link between gut microbiota and obesity-related effects. Microbiota imbalance
Revised: February 13, 2025 is highly recognized as an indicator of a given disease or a poor health status.
Accepted: March 3, 2025 There are several probiotics that directly support the gut microbiota imbalance
on obesity, including Lactobacillus (e.g., Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus gasseri,
Published online: March 18, 2025 Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and Lactobacillus plantarum) and Bifidobacterium (e.g.,
Copyright: © 2025 Author(s). Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium longum, and Bifidobacterium breve B3). In
This is an Open-Access article this systematic review, we aim to consolidate existing evidence on the role of gut
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution microbiota in managing obesity-related comorbidities, with a particular focus on
License, permitting distribution, the impact of specific probiotics on weight management and metabolic health.
and reproduction in any medium, The review also provides an overview of the interplay between gut microbiota
provided the original work is
properly cited. and obesity-related factors, including energy homeostasis, inflammation, and
metabolic regulation.
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional Keywords: Lactobacillus; Bifidobacterium; Obesity; Systematic review
affiliations.

Volume 2 Issue 2 (2025) 34 doi: 10.36922/mi.8358