The characterization of gut microbiota has become an important area of research in several clinical conditions, including type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Changes in the composition and/or metabolic activity of the gut microbiota can contribute to human health. Thus, this review discusses the effects of probiotics and gut microbiota on metabolic control in these individuals. Relevant studies were obtained from electronic databases such as PubMed/Medline and ISI Web of Science. The main probiotics used in these studies belonged to the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. The authors found seven randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials and 13 experimental studies directly related to the effect of probiotics on metabolic control in the context of T2DM. The hypothesis that gut microbiota plays a role in the development of diabetes indicates an important beginning, and the potential of probiotics to prevent and reduce the severity of T2DM is better observed in animal studies. In clinical trials, the use of probiotics in glycemic control presented conflicting results, and only few studies have attempted to evaluate factors that justify metabolic changes, such as markers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and incretins. Thus, further research is needed to assess the effects of probiotics in the metabolism of diabetic individuals, as well as the main mechanisms involved in this complex relationship.

Probiotic yogurt is suggested as a nutritional approach in type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of probiotic yogurt on glycemic outcomes in T2D or obesity. The databases used to search for RCTs included Medline and Scopus. The RCTs were eligible if outcomes included selected glycemic markers. In nine eligible trials, 237 and 235 subjects were in treatment (probiotic yogurt) and control (mostly conventional yogurt) groups, respectively. There was no significant difference for pooled unstandardized mean difference (USMD) hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) by probiotic yogurt compared with the control in T2D (USMD: −0.366; 95% CI: −0.755, 0.024, p = 0.066) and obesity (USMD: 0.116, 95% CI: −0.007, 0.238, p = 0.065). Similarly, there were no effects of probiotic yogurt on fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, or insulin resistance (estimated by homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)) in either T2D or obesity. In conclusion, the present meta-analysis has not demonstrated the benefits of consuming probiotic compared with conventional yogurt for improving glucose control in patients with diabetes or obesity. Larger trials are needed to verify the benefits of probiotic and/or conventional yogurt or other probiotic fermented milk (e.g., kefir) on glycemic markers in patients with diabetes and obesity.

ResumoPacientes submetidos à cirurgia bariátrica apresentam maior risco de desenvolver deficiências nutricionais pela limitação na ingestão e absorção de diferentes nutrientes. Desta forma, realizamos uma revisão sistemática no PubMed e ISI Web of Science incluindo artigos de setembro de 1983 a abril de 2010 para identificar as principais deficiências nutricionais após a cirurgia bariátrica e de que forma ocorre o seu tratamento. As palavras-chave utilizadas individualmente ou em associação foram: cirurgia bariátrica, obesidade, deficiência de vitamina/mineral, deficiência de proteína, absorção de nutrientes e suplementação de nutrientes. A literatura sugere que para prevenir ou tratar as deficiências nutricionais decorrentes das alterações anatômicas provocadas pelas técnicas cirúrgicas é necessário o uso de suplementação nutricional. O sucesso da suplementação nutricional oral em corrigir ou prevenir as deficiências nutricionais depende de vários fatores. Assim, compreender as formas pelas quais os nutrientes podem ser administrados é muito importante na prática clínica. Essa revisão tem como objetivo auxiliar a melhor seleção de nutrientes de forma a garantir uma reposição adequada dos nutrientes em pacientes submetidos à cirurgia bariátrica.SummaryPatients who have undergone bariatric surgery are at increased risk of developing nutritional deficiencies from limited food intake and absorption of different nutrients. A systematic review of several database websites (PubMed and ISI Web of Science) was conducted from September 1983 to April 2010 to identify literature related to micronutrient deficiencies occurring after bariatric surgery. Keywords used individually or in various combinations in the search were bariatric surgery, obesity, vitamin/mineral deficiencies, protein deficiency, nutrient absorption and nutrient supplementation. Literature suggests that to prevent or treat nutritional deficiencies resulting from anatomical changes due to surgical techniques nutritional supplementation is usually necessary. The success of oral nutritional supplementation to correct or prevent nutritional deficiencies depends on several factors. Thus, to understand how nutrients can be administered is very important for clinical practice. This review aims to provide help for the best selection of nutrients to ensure an adequate replacement of nutrients in patients who have undergone bariatric surgery

The study aimed to evaluate two grape flavored fermented goat milk produced with or without probiotics. Physicochemical characteristics, sensory analysis, antioxidant profile and probiotics viability of the dairy beverages were analyzed. The phenolic contents and antioxidant activity of probiotic milk were higher than conventional milk. A higher loss in cell viability was observed for L. acidophilus than for the B. animalis. The average sensory acceptability scores obtained by both dairy beverages were higher than 6.5. Therefore, the probiotic fermented milk showed an adequate vehicle for the probiotics with good viability, a higher total phenolic and antioxidant activity and good acceptability.