The gut microbiome has emerged as a promising target for improving metabolic health. One area gaining attention is postbiotics, which are non-viable microbial preparations that retain biological activity. This reflects a growing understanding that benefits come not just from live bacteria, but also from what those bacteria produce and how they interact with the body.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated the effects of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CECT 8145 (Ba8145), administered in both live and heat-treated (postbiotic) forms, on body composition and metabolic markers in individuals with abdominal obesity. This study is particularly relevant as it also explored changes in the gut microbiome, including Akkermansia muciniphila, a genus increasingly associated with metabolic health.
Study Overview
During this 12-week study, 126 adults (43 men, 83 women) with abdominal obesity were randomized to receive either a placebo, live Ba8145, or its heat-treated form (h-k Ba8145). Participants consumed one capsule daily (100 mg of either live or heat-treated bacteria, providing 1010 CFU), with no meaningful differences in diet or physical activity observed across groups during the study. The paper refers to these as live Ba8145 and heat-treated Ba8145, but for simplicity, they will be referred to as the probiotic form and postbiotic form throughout the rest of this blog.
Researchers evaluated multiple outcomes, including body composition markers such as body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, subcutaneous and visceral fat area, as well as metabolic markers like insulin resistance, blood pressure, serum lipids and lipoproteins, and leptin levels. Gut microbiome composition was also assessed to better understand potential mechanisms underlying any observed changes.
Key Findings
The intervention led to measurable improvements in body composition and metabolic markers over the 12-week period, with distinct effects observed between the probiotic and postbiotic forms. These findings include:
These findings suggest that while the probiotic form may influence overall body weight, reflected by significant reductions in BMI, the postbiotic form may have more targeted effects on visceral fat, central adiposity, and metabolic health. This is consistent with the broader improvements seen across these measures in the postbiotic group. It is worth noting that in stratified analyses, statistical significance was observed primarily in women, particularly for body composition and metabolic outcomes, although this was not a primary focus of the study.
For Akkermansia, increases in abundance were observed across groups, including both the probiotic and postbiotic groups. While these between-group differences were not statistically significant, levels were inversely associated with body weight (P = 0.003), suggesting a potential link between microbiome shifts and improvements in body composition. This aligns with the study’s suggestion that increases in Akkermansia may help explain the observed metabolic and body composition changes.
Why Postbiotics Matter
One of the more interesting findings from this study is that the postbiotic form of B. lactis still had measurable effects. This suggests the benefits are not just from the bacteria themselves taking up residence in the gut, but also from what they contain and how they signal to the body.
Postbiotics offer several practical advantages in clinical settings. They tend to be more stable than live probiotics, and less sensitive to environmental conditions, which can help support more consistent dosing. Additionally, they appear to influence the same key pathways related to metabolism, inflammation, and gut barrier function as live probiotics would.
The Akkermansia Connection
The increase in Akkermansia observed in this study provides a potential mechanistic link between postbiotic supplementation and metabolic improvements. Akkermansia is considered a keystone species within the gut microbiome and has been associated with improved gut barrier integrity, short-chain fatty acid production, and overall metabolic regulation. Emerging evidence suggests that it may also influence endogenous GLP-1 production, a hormone involved in insulin secretion, appetite regulation, and glycemic control. These effects are thought to be mediated through microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids, as well as through signaling interactions in the gut.
This suggests that postbiotics may support metabolic health in several ways, including by influencing key signaling pathways and shifting microbes such as Akkermansia in a more favorable direction.
Clinical Takeaway
This study provides evidence that B. lactis CECT 8145 (Ba8145), particularly in its postbiotic form, may support improvements in body composition and metabolic markers in individuals with abdominal obesity. The associated increase in Akkermansia suggests a potential microbiome-related mechanism, highlighting the importance of targeting both the body and the gut microbiome together.
As interest in next-generation probiotics and postbiotics continues to grow, these findings point to a practical and evidence-based approach for supporting metabolic health through microbiome-based interventions.
Learn more about postbiotics, Akkermansia, and metabolic health:
Two Next-Generation Probiotics You Should Know About: Anaerostipes and Akkermansia
GLP-1 Begins in the Gut: Clinical Clues From Microbiome Testing
Recent Review Explores Biochemical Relationship Between Gut Metabolites and Metabolic Health
By Jesse Martin, MS
Designs for Health has been dedicated to being the most trusted source for superior quality, science-based nutritional products for nearly three decades. We’re committed to maximizing successful health outcomes by providing healthcare practitioners with comprehensive support through our extensive product line, ongoing clinical education, and practice development programs. The blogs we publish here cover a range of topics, including new and original approaches to diet and healthcare, analyses of the latest cutting-edge research, deep-dives into specific nutrients, botanicals, nutraceuticals and more, all fully referenced for those who want to dig deeper into the primary literature.
