Rectal administration of buttermilk processed with medicinal plants alters gut microbiome in obese individuals

To evaluate the effect of rectal administration of buttermilk processed with medicinal plants on gut microbial composition and thereby on weight in obese individuals.

With ethics committee approval, 16 obese individuals in the age group 20-50 years (BMI ≥30 kg/m²) were recruited who received a course of 15-enemas over 15-days. Of these, 1st, 8th and 15th enemas were of sesame-oil administered after food, while other enemas were of buttermilk processed with medicinal plants administered before food. Outcome variables viz. anthropometry, body composition, blood glucose, insulin and lipid profile were evaluated on day 0, 16 and 45. Also, microbial composition of buttermilk preparation and faecal samples of patients collected on day 0, 16 and 45 were studied with the help of 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

The circumferential measures and skinfold-thickness showed a decrease on day 16, which remained lower as compared to baseline till day 45. A gradual decrease in blood-glucose was seen, which was statistically significant on day 45, while insulin levels increased on day 16 and fell to baseline on day 45. There was an overall increase in bacterial diversity on day 16 that settled back to its original composition by day 45.

Our findings suggest that buttermilk administration per rectum is effective for a specific period and may have to be repeated for sustained benefits.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-021-00879-z.