An Infant Milk Formula Supplemented with Heat-Treated Probiotic <i>Bifidobacterium animalis</i> subsp. <i>lactis</i> CECT 8145, Reduces Fat Deposition in <i>C. elegans</i> 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 Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CECT 8145 (HT-BPL1), added as a supplement on an infant milk formula (HT-BPL1-IN), on Caenorhabditis elegans 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 C. elegans, 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.

Keywords

• heat-treated probiotic
• <i>Bifidobacterium animalis</i> subsp. <i>lactis</i>
• fat deposition
• acetate
• lactate
• <i>C. elegans</i>