An Infant Milk Formula Supplemented with Heat-Treated Probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CECT 8145, Reduces Fat Deposition in C. elegans and Augments Acetate and Lactate in a Fermented Infant Slurry

Abstract

Pediatric obesity has a growing health and socio-economical impact due to cardiovascular and metabolic complications in adult life. Some recent studies suggest that live or heat-treated probiotics have beneficial effects in preventing fat deposition and obesity in preclinical and clinical sets. Here, we have explored the effects of heat-treated probiotic <i>Bifidobacterium animalis</i> subsp. <i>lactis</i> CECT 8145 (HT-BPL1), added as a supplement on an infant milk formula (HT-BPL1-IN), on <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> fat deposition and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and lactate, using fermented baby fecal slurries. We have found that HT-BPL1-IN significantly reduced fat deposition in <i>C. elegans,</i> at the time it drastically augmented the generation of some SCFAs, particulary acetate and organic acid lactate. Data suggest that heat-treated BPL1 maintains its functional activities when added to an infant powder milk formula.