Profiles of Intestinal Flora in Breastfed Obese Children and Selecting Functional Strains Against Obesity

Breast milk has the potential to prevent childhood obesity by providing probiotics, but there are still instances of obesity in breastfed children.

This study investigates the difference in intestinal flora structure between breastfed children with obesity (OB-BF) and normal-weight breastfed children (N-BF). Building upon this foundation, it employs both cell and mouse models to identify an antiobesity strain within the fecal matter of N-BF children and explore its underlying mechanisms. The results reveal a reduction in lactobacillus levels within the intestinal flora of OB-BF children compared to N-BF children. Consequently, Lactobacillus plantarum H-72 (H-72) is identified as a promising candidate due to its capacity to stimulate glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion in enteroendocrine cells (ECCs). In vivo, H-72 effectively increases serum GLP-1 concentration, reduces food intake, regulates the expression of genes related to energy metabolism (SCD-1, FAS, UCP-1, and UCP-3), and regulates gut microbiota structure in mice. Moreover, the lipoteichoic acid of H-72 activates toll-like receptor 4 to enhanced GLP-1 secretion in STC-1 cells.

L. plantarum H-72 is screened out for its potential antiobesity effect, which presents a potential and promising avenue for future interventions aimed at preventing pediatric obesity in breastfed children.