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Journals / Atlas Journal of Medicine / 2026 / Cilt: 6 Sayı: 3

The role of probiotics in obesity management: current evidence and future perspectives

Obezite yönetiminde probiyotiklerin rolü: güncel kanıtlar ve gelecek perspektifler

Melikenur Sulubacak(İSTANBUL AREL ÜNİVERSİTESİ, SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ ENSTİTÜSÜ)0009-0002-1063-0180
Dilek Özçelik Ersü(İSTANBUL AREL ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0001-0247-5347
Pages
212–221
Publication Date
2026-10-28
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

In conclusion, probiotics may be considered a supportive approach in obesity management when used alongside lifestyle modifications and nutritional therapy.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Obesity is a complex metabolic disease that develops as a result of the interaction of genetic, environmental, behavioral, and biological factors.
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Key Findings & Data:In recent years, as the role of the gut microbiota in energy homeostasis, inflammation, intestinal barrier integrity, and metabolic regulation has become increasingly evident, the potential effects of probiotics in obesity management have gained significant attention.
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Conclusion & Impact:In conclusion, probiotics may be considered a supportive approach in obesity management when used alongside lifestyle modifications and nutritional therapy.
🔬Design:Review & Systematic Survey
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Gastrointestinal mikrobiyom · inflamasyon · metabolik sendrom

Abstract

Obesity is a complex metabolic disease that develops as a result of the interaction of genetic, environmental, behavioral, and biological factors. In recent years, as the role of the gut microbiota in energy homeostasis, inflammation, intestinal barrier integrity, and metabolic regulation has become increasingly evident, the potential effects of probiotics in obesity management have gained significant attention. The aim of this review is to evaluate the effects of probiotic supplementation on obesity management in light of current scientific evidence. In this context, the effects of probiotics on body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and fat mass, as well as on glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, lipid profile, and inflammatory markers, were examined. In addition, the potential mechanisms of action involving short-chain fatty acid production, intestinal barrier function, metabolic endotoxemia, inflammation, and appetite-regulating hormones were discussed. The influence of strain differences, dosage, duration of administration, and individual microbiota characteristics on treatment outcomes was also evaluated. Findings from the literature indicate that certain “Lactobacillus”, “Bifidobacterium”, and next-generation probiotic strains may provide limited but significant improvements in body weight, fat mass, and metabolic parameters under specific conditions. In conclusion, probiotics may be considered a supportive approach in obesity management when used alongside lifestyle modifications and nutritional therapy. Nevertheless, larger-scale, long-term, and standardized randomized controlled trials are needed to develop definitive recommendations for clinical practice.

Özet

Obezite, genetik, çevresel, davranışsal ve biyolojik faktörlerin etkileşimi sonucu gelişen kompleks bir metabolik hastalıktır. Son yıllarda bağırsak mikrobiyotasının enerji homeostazı, inflamasyon, bağırsak bariyer bütünlüğü ve metabolik düzenleme üzerindeki rolünün ortaya konmasıyla birlikte, probiyotiklerin obezite yönetimindeki potansiyel etkileri önem kazanmıştır. Bu derlemenin amacı, probiyotik takviyelerinin obezite yönetimindeki etkilerini güncel bilimsel kanıtlar doğrultusunda değerlendirmektir. Bu kapsamda probiyotiklerin vücut ağırlığı, beden kütle indeksi (BKİ), bel çevresi ve yağ kütlesi ile glukoz metabolizması, insülin direnci, lipid profili ve inflamatuvar belirteçler üzerindeki etkileri incelenmiştir. Ayrıca kısa zincirli yağ asidi üretimi, bağırsak bariyer fonksiyonu, metabolik endotoksemi, inflamasyon ve iştah düzenleyici hormonlar üzerindeki olası etki mekanizmaları ele alınmıştır. Suş farklılıkları, doz, uygulama süresi ve bireysel mikrobiyota özelliklerinin tedavi sonuçlarına etkisi de değerlendirilmiştir. Literatür bulguları, bazı Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium ve yeni nesil probiyotik suşlarının belirli koşullarda vücut ağırlığı, yağ kütlesi ve metabolik parametrelerde sınırlı ancak anlamlı iyileşmeler sağlayabildiğini göstermektedir. Sonuç olarak probiyotikler, yaşam tarzı değişiklikleri ve beslenme tedavisi ile uygulandığında obezite yönetiminde destekleyici bir yaklaşım olarak değerlendirilebilir. Bununla birlikte, klinik uygulamaya yönelik kesin öneriler geliştirebilmek için daha geniş örneklemli, uzun süreli ve standardize edilmiş randomize kontrollü çalışmalara ihtiyaç vardır.

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Cite This Article

Sulubacak, M., Ersü, D. Ö. (2026). The role of probiotics in obesity management: current evidence and future perspectives. Atlas Journal of Medicine, Cilt: 6 Sayı: 3, 212–221. https://doi.org/10.54270/atljm.2026.136

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