Scientists tested a special probiotic called L. plantarum ST-III on overweight rats to see if it could help with weight loss. They compared it to oats and found that the probiotic worked faster - rats started losing weight in just 2 weeks compared to 6 weeks with oats. The probiotic also reduced inflammation and changed gut bacteria in helpful ways. While this is promising, the research was only done on rats, so we don’t know yet if the same effects would happen in people.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether a specific probiotic strain could help overweight rats lose weight better than oats
  • Who participated: Male laboratory rats that were made overweight by eating a high-fat diet for 9 weeks
  • Key finding: The probiotic helped rats start losing weight in 2 weeks, while oats took 6 weeks to show results
  • What it means for you: This suggests certain probiotics might help with weight loss, but human studies are needed before making recommendations