Human milk oligosaccharide may improve body composition in a weight loss program: Study
The study, published in the journal Nutrients, found the human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) promoted beneficial changes in resting fat oxidation, peak aerobic capacity, IL-4, and platelet aggregation and improved participants’ ratings of quality of life.
“These findings indicate that 2′-FL supplementation may offer additional benefits to overweight individuals initiating an exercise and weight-loss program,” wrote the researchers from Texas A&M University, University of Memphis, and University of California Davis.
The new results expand the beneficial effects of 2′-FL, the most prevalent HMO is human milk.
HMOs and weight management
Human milk contains over 200 oligosaccharides, which act as prebiotics to stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria in infants and support their developing immune systems.
However, scientists have become increasingly interested in the potential benefits of HMOs in adult populations to support health and prevent metabolic diseases.
The current researchers noted an anti-obesity property of 2′-FL by promoting fat oxidation and gut barrier integrity. This suggests the potential to counteract decreased resting energy expenditure (REE) that occurs due to reduced lean body mass in energy-restricted weight loss programs.
As REE decreases, further weight loss can be difficult, highlighting the importance of preserving lean muscle mass.
The new findings confirm that 2′-FL has the potential to preserve muscle mass during weight loss and has positive effects on the gut, lipid metabolism, inflammation, and microbial composition.
Study details
The study randomized 41 overweight and sedentary female and male participants to take 3 grams per day of Momstamin 2′-FL supplied by Korea-based Advanced Protein Technologies Corp., or placebo for 12 weeks.
The participants reduced their calorie intake by 300 kcals a day, adhering to macronutrient ratios as recommended by the American Heart Association. Additionally, they participated in a walking program to accumulate 10,000 daily steps for 5 days per week.
Researchers made assessments at baseline, 6 weeks, and the end of the study.
They found that both groups had comparable weight reductions. However, those who took 2′-FL had a significantly greater reduction in body fat. Specifically, the 2’-FL group lost an average of 1.64 kg over 12 weeks, compared to an average of 0.51 kg in the placebo group.
Furthermore, the loss percentage of body fat was significantly greater in the 2′-FL group (1.19% decrease), compared to placebo (0.03% decrease). The data also suggested that 2′-FL supplementation led to better maintenance of fat-free mass (a decrease of only 229 grams, compared to a decrease of 983 grams in the placebo group).
Additionally, 2′-FL was associated with more favorable changes in resting fat oxidation, peak aerobic capacity, IL-4, and platelet aggregation, and there were some minimal beneficial effects on the fermentation of short-chain fatty acids and monosaccharides in fecal samples.
The researchers also found some evidence that 2′-FL improved intestinal permeability, as shown by decreased zonulin levels. Participants taking the supplement reported improvements in quality-of-life measures.
Although the supplement was well tolerated, there was a small but significant decrease in bone mineral content, which the researchers note requires further study to confirm this as an anomaly or potential health concern.
“The results support contentions that dietary supplementation of 2′-FL (3 g/d) can promote additional fat loss, aerobic training adaptations, improvements in some markers of health and inflammation, and perceptions about the quality of life, particularly those related to the physical capacity,” they wrote.
“Dietary supplementation of 2′-FL also reduced intestinal permeability and platelet aggregation, which may have clinical implications.”
Source: Nutrients
2024, 16(19), 3387; doi: 10.3390/nu16193387
“Effects of human milk oligosaccharide 2′-fucosyllactose ingestion on weight loss and markers of health”
Authors: J. Ko et al.
