Synbiotic yogurt consumption reduces oxidative stress, a risk factor for developing cancer, diabetes

In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers from the Tehran University of Medical Sciences demonstrated that consuming a cow’s milk yogurt fortified with a mixture of prebiotics and postbiotics – collectively known as ‘synbiotics’ – significantly improved oxidative stress status in adults with metabolic syndrome.

The finding provides scientific evidence that synbiotic yogurt can be used to mitigate the effects of oxidative stress, a condition that leads to cell and tissue breakdown and can cause chronic and degenerative diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s and heart disease.

Oxidative stress, a process linked to ageing and triggered when antioxidant levels in the body are low, is closely associated with metabolic syndrome, a risk factor for type-2 diabetes. Existing research has found that modifying the gut microbiota can lessen the effects of metabolic syndrome. For example, probiotics can improve certain metabolic parameters, reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, and act as antioxidants.

But research on how probiotic-fortified foods affect oxidative stress in adults living with metabolic syndrome has been lacking.

In a 12-week randomized clinical trial, the researchers examined how oxidative stress biomarkers were affected when adults with metabolic syndrome consumed synbiotic yogurt fortified with Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus pentosus, and Chloromyces marcosianos yeast, versus a control group that consumed regular yogurt.

After 12 weeks of daily consumption, the synbiotic yogurt group had significantly improved their antioxidant levels along with other biomarkers indicating improvements in oxidative stress status.

“These results support the potential of this new developed synbiotic yogurt as a dietary intervention for individuals with MetS, offering a novel approach to ameliorating oxidative stress and potentially reducing the risk of associated complications," the authors noted.

"Further research is warranted to explore the long-term effects of synbiotic yogurt consumption and its impact on various metabolic parameters in individuals with MetS.”

Source:

Consumption of a new developed synbiotic yogurt improves oxidative stress status in adults with metabolic syndrome: a randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: Zolghadrpour, MA., Jowshan, MR., Seyedmahalleh, M.H. et al.
Published: Scientific Reports 14, 20333 (2024)
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-71264-y