GB2522188A

GB2522188A - A lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263 composition for controlling body weight and its use thereof

Info

Publication number: GB2522188A
Application number: GB1400407.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yi-Hsing Chen; Feng-Ching Hsieh; Po-Yung Chen
Original assignee: Genmont Biotech Inc
Current assignee: Genmont Biotech Inc
Priority date: 2014-01-10
Filing date: 2014-01-10
Publication date: 2015-07-22
Anticipated expiration: 2034-01-10
Also published as: GB201400407D0; GB2522188B

Abstract

A composition for reducing or maintaining body weight, comprises a probiotic bacterial strain which includes Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263 with the deposition numbers of BCRC 910452 and CCTCC M 209263. The composition may be used in the treatment of obesity and its complications selected from the group consisting of hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease and fatty liver. Preferably, the composition comprises at least one of: live bacteria, dead bacteria, and cell lysates. The composition may comprise at least one of the bacterial strains selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus sp., Bifidobacterium sp., Streptococcus sp., and yeasts. The composition may be in the form of a food.

Description

A LACTOBACJLLUS REUTER! GMNL-263 COMPOSITION FOR

CONTROLLING BODY WEIGHT AND ITS USE THEREOF

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention features an isolated Lactobacillus strain and its use for controlling body weight.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

With the development of cities, obesity has gradually become the health killer in modern life nowadays. Accumulated studies also indicate obesity increases the risk of developing diabetes, cancers, gall bladder diseases, high blood pressure as well as atherosclerosis, and therefore effectively reducing body fat and decreasing obesity are urgent tasks.

Obesity is usually caused by excess body fat accumulated in the body due to physiological or biochemical functional change(s) and can have adversely affect the health. Lipids commonly include fats, phospholipid and cholesterol. The increase of weight is mainly due to the fact that total energy intake is more than energy expenditure. In general, obesity can be divided into two types including simple obesity and second obesity. Simple obesity can he further classified as idiopathic obesity and acquired obesity and account for nearly 95% of obesity. Idiopathic obesity is caused by huge numbers of adipocytes and is usually found in children obesity. Meanwhile, acquired obesity results from larger adipocytes and is more common in adults with obesity problems. Second obesity is also called symptomatic obesity and is often the result of endocrine or metabolic diseases. Obesity has been found to correlate with certain chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, hiliary calculus, gout and certain cancers.

Currently, five strategies are available for treating obesity: diet, exercise, behavioral therapy, drug therapy and therapeutic operation.

Different treatment or combinations of these treatments are selected for treating patients with obesity based on the risk factors in the patient's health, the rate of weight loss as well as the corresponding effects of those treatments. The rate of weight loss and the effects are determined according to various factors such as age, height, family history and risk factors, etc. The mechanisms of drug therapy include appetite, increase energy consumption, stimulate lipid transfer, reduce thacylglycerol synthesis and inhibition of lipid adsorption. The common drugs used clinically for treatment are phenylpropanolamine (PPA), orlistatlXenical TM, and sibutramine/Reductil TM.

Nonetheless, treating obesity with natural materials instead of using drugs has become the new trend recently.

Probiotics is beneficial to the health of gastrointestinal tract, and several reports have indicated that in addition to regulating immune functions, these bacterias can also help ameliorate disease symptoms such as high blood pressure, cancers and high cholesterol, Moreover, studies have demonstrated certain probiotic bacteria can regulate the body weight and body fat of obese mice, regardless of the status of these bacteria, live or dead. From prior research, it is speculated that prohiotics may contain crucial effective ingredient(s). In prior application, US 8,298,526, the inventor of present invention discovered Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263 can effectively improve the symptoms of type I diabetes. However, whether prohiotics can efficiently improve obesity symptoms or reduce weight and through which mechanism(s) remain unclear due to the limited literature available up to date.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

While only limited studies are available on the identification of the relations between the abovementioned probiotic bacteria and obesity, searching for probiotic bacteria that efficiently improves the symptoms of obesity is a critical task. Since 3T3-L1 preadipocytes has been widely used in studying adipose tissues and relevant mechanisms, these cells are selected herein to examine the effects of Lactobacillus bacterial cell lysates on biosynthesis of adipocytes and Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263(Lr263) has been identified as a potential bacterial strain for treating obesity. Further animal studies were conducted in the obese mice to investigate the effects of this newly identified strain by feeding model mice with high fat food and different dosages of live or dead Lr263 bacteria.

In one aspect, present invention provides a conipositionfor reducing or maintaining body weight, comprising a probiotic bacterial strain includes Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263 with the deposition numbers of BCRC 910452 and CCTCC M 209263.

According to the invention, the abovementioned Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263 composition further comprises of at least one of the following ingredients: live bacteria, dead bacteria and cell lysates.

Based on the invention, the aforementioned composition is a pharmaceutical composition, food, or food composition, wherein the pharmaceutical composition further includes a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is a dosage form for oral administration and the dosage form is selected from the following list or their combinations thereof, but is not limited to, solution, suspension, emulsion, powder, tablet, pill, lozenge, troche, chewing gum, slurry, capsule and other suitable forms, wherein the pharmaceutical composition contains at least one type of the following cells: a daily dose of io5 to lO'° live, dead and cell lysates of GMNL-263 bacteria, wherein the food further contain at least one of the following probiotic bacteria: Lactobacillus sp., Bfidobacterium sp., Streptococcus sp., and yeast. The food also contain an edible material and said edible material includes, but is not limited to, water, fluid milk products, milk, concentrated milk, fermented milk, yogurt, sour milk, frozen yogurt, lactic acid bacteria-fermented beverages, milk powder, ice cream, cream cheeses, dry cheeses, soybean milk, fermented soybean milk, vegetable-fruit juices, juices, sports drinks, confectionery, jelly, candies, infant formulas, health foods, animal feeds, Chinese herbs, dietary supplements, and the like, wherein the food comprises at least one of the following cell types: a daily dose 10 containing 10 to 10 of live, dead and cell lysates of GMNL-263.

In another aspect, present invention provides a use of the ahovementioned composition for manufacturing the composition used for treating obesity and relevant complications, wherein the complications are selected from the following diseases, but are not limited to, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease and fatty liver, or their combinations thereof.

According to a further aspect, present invention also provides a use of the ahovementioned composition for manufacturing the composition used for inhibition of lipid biosynthesis, high total body fat, high visceral fat, high gonadal fat, high total cholesterol, high triglyceride (TO) concentration, or the ratio of low density lipoprotein and high density lipoprotein (LDL I HDL).

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for the treatment of obesity and its relevant complications, comprising of administrating the aforementioned composition.

In one aspect, the invention provides a method for the treatment of inhibiting lipid biosynthesis, high total body fat, high visceral fat, high gonadal fat, high total cholesterol, high triglyceride (TO) concentration, or the ratio of low density lipoprotein and high density lipoprotein (LDL I HDL), comprising of administrating the aforementioned composition.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a composition for the treatment of treating obesity and its relevant complications, comprising of the aforementioned composition.

In one aspect, the invention provides a composition for the treatment of inhibiting lipid biosynthesis, high total body fat, high visceral fat, high gonadal fat, high total cholesterol, high triglyceride (TG) concentration, or the ratio of low density lipoprotein and high density lipoprotein (LDL I HDL), including the aforementioned composition.

These features and advantages of the present invention will be fully understood and appreciated from the following detailed

description of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 shows the effects of Lr263 bacterial cell lysates on the percentage of oil content in adipocytes. (A) Oil Red 0 staining (IOOX magnification) (B) The content of oil (9'c), in triplicates, a, b and c represent significant difference were observed, p<O.O5, by Duncan analysis.

Fig. 2 shows the effects of Lr263 bacteria on body weight. (A) at the week 12 and (B) between week 0 and week 12.

Fig. 3 shows the effects of Lr263 bacteria on the ratios of adipose tis sue/body weight.

Fig. 4 shows the effects of Lr263 bacteria on the ratios of visceral adipose weight/body weight.

Fig. 5 shows the effects of Lr263 bacteria on the ratios of gonadal fat/body weight.

Fig. 6 shows the effects of Lr263 bacteria on liver function.

Fig. 7 shows the effects of Lr263 bacteria on lipid concentrations in blood.

Fig. 8 shows the effects of Lr263 bacteria on LDLIHDL ratio.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED

EMBODIMENT

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the meaning commonly understood by a person skilled in the art to which this invention belongs. The present invention will now he described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments, which are provided for the purpose of demonstration rather than limitation.

The invention features a composition used for treating obesity, which includes Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263 with the deposition numbers of BCRC 910452 and CCTCC M 209263. In addition, present invention also relates to a novel use of the composition or the Lactobacillus bacterial strain for treating obesity, and the mechanism of inhibiting lipid biosynthesis so as to reduce formation of lipid droplets and treat obesity.

The Lacto bacillus isolated strain also includes the progeny obtained from the subculture of the Lactobacillus strain or its mutants, which still preserve the same features, genomes or use (for inhibition of enterovirus) of the bacterial strain disclosed in the invention.

The inventive composition includes, but not is limited to, foods, beverages, health foods, additives in animal drinking water, animal feed additives, pharmaceutical compositions for animals and human beings, food additives, beverage additives and the like.

As used herein, the following terms have the meanings ascribed to them unless specified otherwise.

The term "treatment", "under treatment" and similar terms refer to the methods which ameliorate, improve, reduce or reverse the patient's disease or any relevant symptoms caused by the disease, or methods which can prevent the onset of such diseases or any resulting symptoms.

The term "pharmaceutically acceptable" is used to describe substances to be used in the composition which must be compatible with other ingredients in the formulation and be harmless to the subject.

The term "cell lysate" is used herein refers to a single cell lysate obtained from particular cell lysis procedures or a series of cell lysis procedures, or the cell lysate may also be a combination of several cell lysates obtained from independent cell lysis procedures. The compositions revealed in the invention therefore are included in the term "cell lysate".

The inventive composition can be prepared into a dosage form for suitable application of the inventive composition by using technology commonly understood by a person skilled in the art through formulating the abovementioned Lacto bacillus isolated strain(s) with a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle, wherein the excipients include, but are not limited to, solution, emulsion, suspension, powder, tablet, pill, lozenge, troche, chewing gum, capsule and other suitable forms.

The pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle may contain one or

S

several reagents selecting from the following list: solvent, emulsifier, suspending agent, decomposer, binding agent, excipient, stabilizing agent, chelating agent, diluent, gelling agent, preservative, lubricant, surfactant and other agents suitable for use in the invention.

In the abovementioned compositions, one or more dissolving aids, buffers, preservatives, colorants, fragrances, flavoring agents and the like, which are commonly used for formulation can he added as desired.

In one preferred embodiment, an edible material can be further added to the inventive composition for preparation of food or health products. Said edible material may include, but is not limited to, water, fluid milk products, milk, concentrated milk, fermented milk, yogurt, sour milk, frozen yogurt, lactic acid bacteria-fermented beverages, milk powder, ice cream, cream cheeses, dry cheeses, soybean milk, fermented soybean milk, vegetable-fruit juices, juices, sports drinJcs, confectionery, jellies, candies, infant formulas, health foods, animal feeds, Chinese herbs, dietary supplements, and the like.

Additionally, the novel bacterial strain identified in the present invention can also be included in a composition containing other conventional bacterial strains.

The inventive composition may further comprise of at least one probiotic bacterial strain selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus sp., Streptococcus sp., Bifidobacteriuin sp., and yeasts.

Said conventional Lactohacillus Sp. include, hut are not limited to, Lactobacillus lactis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactohacillus hifidus, Lactohacilius casei, Lactohacilius paracasee subsp. paracasei, Lactobacilius rhamnosus, Lactobacilius gasseri, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus fennentuin, or their combinations thereof.

Said conventional Streptococcus sp. include, but are not limited to, Streptococcus lactis, Streptococcus thermophilus, Streptococcus cremoris, or their combinations thereof.

Said conventional Bejidobacterium sp. include, but are not limited to, Bijidobacterium breve, Bzfidobacteriuin lactis, Bijidobacterium ion gum, Bifldobacteriuin bjfiduin, or their combinations thereof.

Said conventional yeasts include, but are not limited to, Saccharomyces cereviseae, Candida kefvr, Saccharomyces florentinus, or their combinations thereof.

In another aspect, present invention provides the method or use of the composition prepared for reducing or maintaining body weight by using the aforementioned Lactobacillus bacteria.

The administration routes of the composition and the method for reducing or maintaining body weight which was disclosed in the invention can be adjusted accordingly based on the needs and has no special restrictions, and oral administration of suitable dosage forms of the composition is the prefened route for administering the inventive composition.

The present invention will now he described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments, which are provided for the purpose of demonstration rather than limitation. The drugs as well as biomaterials used in the invention are all commercially available materials and the sources disclosed below are merely examples.

The inventor (GenMont Biotech Inc. ) of this application isolated more than 100 bacterial isolated strains from the gastrointestinal tract of healthy adults, which allows establishment of the culture collection of the invention. The collection locations, collection times, collectors as well as contact information of the collectors are summarized in the

Table 1.

Table 1 Genetic Resources Information Source of the. Collection Contact Collection collected location Collector information genetic ime (Province (Name) of the (yyyylmmldd) information _______________ City) __________ collector No. 8, Nanke 7th Healthy adults Taiwan Wang, Road, GMNL263 Gastrointestinal 2006.01.20 Tainan Yin-Yu Shanhua tract City District, ___________ _______________ ______________ __________ _________ Tainan City The deposition numbers, deposition date and names of the Lactohacillus strains which can he used for treating obesity are selected and summarized in Table 2. Among which, Lactobacillus reuter GMNL-263 (Lr263) is a previously reported strain and the original copies of documents as well as relevant information including strain characteristics, proof of deposition and viability test reports can all be found in a number of international patents.

Table 2 Bioresource Collection and Research Center (BCRC) and China Center for Type Culture Collection (CCTCC) deposition ii information of the Lactohacillus strains of the invention.

Name of the strain Deposition Deposition date Disclosed information number in patents CCTCC M TW 1340021 Lactohacillus 209263 2009/11/13 US 8298526B2 GMNL-263 reuteri BCRC 20091111061 JP 5l85976B 910452 TW1355939

Example 1

Materials: 3T3-LI preadipocytes (BCRC 60159 purchased from Food Industry Research and Development Institute), DMEM-high glucose and MRS broth.

Methods: The technique utilized herein is modified from which disclosed in the previous study of Park et. al. (2011).

a. Preparation of Lactobacillus bacterial cell lysate: 1. Bacterial strains were obtained from the culture collection and incubated in MRS broth for 18 hrs.

2. The bacterial cultures were centrifuged at 2,700 rpm for 10 minutes, washed with PBS and the broth was discarded for collection of the bacterial strains without medium.

3. The collected bacteria were re-suspended with PBS and adjusted to the concentration of I xi0'° cell/mi.

The adjusted bacterial culture was subjected to sonication for lysis and then filtered with a 0.22 p.m filter membrane before stored at -20 °C.

b. In vitro cell culture of 3T3-Ll cells: I. 3T3-L I adipocytes were cultured in DMEM-high giucose medium supplemented with 10 % fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 1 % penicillin and streptoinycin (PS) and the medium was changed every 2-3 days when sub-culturing the cells.

2. The cells were inoculated onto 24-well plates at the concentration of 8x104 cell/well and confluent growth shall be obtained after 3-day culture. The medium was then replaced and the cells were cultured for additional two days.

3. The medium was then replaced with DMEM-high glucose containing 10% FBS, 10 jtg/mL insulin, 0.5 mM 3-isohutyl-I -methylxanthine and 1 iM dexamethasone, and the cells were cultured for additional three days.

4. At the end of 3-day culture, the medium was replaced with DMEM-high glucose containing 10% FBS, 1 % PS and 10 gg/mL insulin, and then changed every two days. Nearly 90% of the cells have differentiated into mature adipocytes after 14 days of culture.

c. Protein quantification analysis: 1. Following removal of culture medium, the cells were washed three times with PBS.

2. Trypsin was added to dislodge the cells from culture plates and the cells were collected in the tube using PBS.

3. Centrifugation at 2,000 rpm for 5 minutes, the supematant was discarded and lysis buffer was added to lyse the cells.

4. Centrifugation atl4,000 rpm for 10 minutes and the resulting supernatant was used as test sample. Bio-Rad Protein assay buffer was diluted S fold first and an aliquot of 900 R1 diluted assay buffer was mixed homogenously with 100 p.1 supernatant or standard solution BSA and incubated for 5 minutes.

5. Protein concentration was measured at A595.

S Oil Red 0 staining for measuring intracellular lipid droplets: Oil Red 0 is an oil soluble dye which stains lipids in cytoplasm in red.

1. Remove the medium, and wash the cells three times with PBS.

2. Add 200 p.1 methanol and incubate for 1 hr to fix the cells.

3. Prepare oil red 0 working solution from oil red 0 stock solution, and add 200 p.1 oil red 0 working solution to the washed cells and stain for I hr.

4. Remove the dye and wash the cells 3 times with dc-ionized water followed by removal of excess water.

5. Observe and acquire the images of the cells under the microscope for analysis.

6. Add 500 p.1 isopropanol and incubate overnight to dissolve the dye and measure OD at 492 nm. The oil amount of each cell is determined by dividing the measured oil amount with protein amount Test results Lr263 cell lysate is prepared by sonication of the cells in PBS at the concentration of lx 1010 cell/mi and the obtained lysates were then added to 3T3-L I preadipocytes at various concentrations as treatments and the effect(s) of the cell lysates on lipid cell differentiation were subsequently examined.

After being cultured for 22 days, adipocytes were stained with Oil Red 0 and oil droplets were clearly visible under the microscope (red areas). From Fig. 1A, increase of the concentration of Lr263 cell lysates decreases the stained areas of red oil droplets.

The levels of oil droplets as well as inhibition of lipid biosynthesis after addition of 0.05 and 0.5% Lr263 cell lysates to fat cells were 68.5±16.0 % / 32.1±5.6 % and 30% /70%, respectively, whereas treating the cells with the highest concentration of cell lysates at 5% only inhibits about 90% of lipid biosynthesis and the level of lipids is 13.4±1.6% (Fig. iB).

In summary, Lr263 cell lysates can effectively inhibit formation of oil droplets during the process of adipocyte differentiation; in other words, it can inhibit biosynthesis of lipid. Therefore, according to the results obtained from in vitro studies, Lr263 is a Lactobacillus strain which has the anti-obesity potential.

Example 2

Experimental procedures: The rats were fed with high fat feeds and Lactobacillus bacteria from day I and were sacrificed after 12 weeks of feeding. During the course of the experiment, water as well as food intake were recorded every day, body weight and fasting blood glucose were documented every week, and oral glucose tolerance was examined every four weeks..

Preparation of the dead Lactobacillus bacteria: Lactobacillus Reuteri Lr263 bacteria were cultured in MRS broth in the 37°C incubator for 12 hrs followed by washing twice with PBS and then incubated in waterhath at 100°C for another 20 minutes before cryoprotectant was added. The Lr263 bacterial culture was freeze-dried into powder using a freeze dryer.

Detailed diet formulations of normal as well as high fat diets are described as follows: Table 3 Diet formulations Ingredient (g/kg) Normal Diet High Fat Diet group (HFD) group Casein 200 232 L-Cystine 3.0 3.0 DL-Methionine --3.5 Corn Starch 397.48 137 Maltodextrin 132 150 Sucrose 100 162.58 Cellulose 50 50 Cholesterol --1.9 Mineral Mix (ATN-93) 35 40.60 Calcium phosphate dibasic --4.64 Vitamin Mix (ATN-93) 10 16.24 Choline Bitartrate 2.5 5 tert-butylhydroquinone 0.014 0.04 Soybean oil 70 40 Lard --153.5 Animal study: Male SD (Sprague-Dawley) rats at the age of five weeks old were purchased from BioLASCO Taiwan Co., Ltd. (Taipei, Taiwan). Throughout the experiment, the rats were housed in air-conditioned and temperature-adjusted plastic cages with a 12-h light/dark cycle and room temperature at 25 ± 1°C and have free access to water and food. The rats, based on their body weights, were randomly assigned to one of the eight groups as shown below after a week of adjustments.

I. Normal diet group: Fed with normal diet and I ml RU water everyday 2. Normal diet + Lr263 dead bacteria group: Fed with normal diet and Lr263 bacteria (5x109 cells/rat/per day) everyday 3. High fat diet (HFD) (negative control) group: Fed with HFD and I ml RU water per day everyday 4. HFD+ Shirota dead bacteria (positive control) group: Fed with normal diet and Shirota bacteria (5x109 cells/rat/per day) everyday. Professor Minoru Shirota, a microbiologist at the Department of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan, successfully identified the lactic acid bacteria which is beneficial to human's gastrointestinal tract in 1930's and the strain was named Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota which is used as the positive control group in this application.

5. HFD + Lr263 dead bacteria low dose group: Fed with HFD and dead Lr263 bacteria (5x105 cell/rat/per day) everyday 6. HFD + Lr263 dead bacteria medium dose group: Fed with HFD and dead Lr263 bacteria (5x107 cell/rat/per day) everyday 7. HFD + Lr263 dead bacteria high dose group: Fed with HFD and dead Lr263 bacteria (5x109 cell/rat/per day) everyday 8. HFD + Lr263 live bacteria group: Fed with HFD and Lr263 live bacteria (2x109 cell/rat/per day) everyday Statistical analyses: Data collected was analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SPSS to determine the differences among these experimental groups. Where significant difference was observed (P<O.Ol), the data was subjected to Duncan's new multiple range test for further analysis.

Test results: A. The effect of Lr263 dead bacteria on body weight: Following feeding with different diets/treatments, at the end of week 12, only the body weight of the rats in the positive control HFD+Shirota group showed reduction; however, the decrease was not significant. On the contrary, rats fed with HFD+ Lr263 dead bacteria low dose, HFD+ Lr263 dead bacteria medium dose, HFD+ Lr263 dead bacteria high dose and HFD+ Lr263 live bacteria all demonstrated significant weight loss when compared with HI-V group (Fig. 2A-B and Table 4). Moreover, HFD+ Lr263 dead bacteria medium dose treatment has even better effect on lowering body weight than HFD+ Lr263 live bacteria treatment, indicating both live and dead Lr263 bacteria are effective in treating obesity and reducing body weight.

B. The effect of Lr263 bacteria on total adipose tissues/body weight ratio: Following feeding with different diets/treatments, at the end of week 12, the adipose tissue/body weight ratios of HFD+ Lr263 dead bacteria medium dose, HFD+ Lr263 dead bacteria high dose and HFD+ Lr263 live bacteria groups were all significantly lower than that of the HFD group (Fig. 3). Tn addition, the adipose tissue/body weight ratios of the flits fed with Lr263 dead bacteria had declined over the time, and the reduction rate of HFD+ Lr263 dead bacteria low dose, HFD+ Lr263 dead bacteria medium dose, HFD+ Lr263 dead bacteria high dose groups were 21.6%, 24.8% and 3 1.0%, respectively, when compared with the HFD group.

C. The effect of Lr263 bacteria on visceral fat/body weight ratio: Based on the abovementioned results of total adipose tissue/body weight ratios, the change of visceral fat was further examined at week 12. Similarly, the visceral fat/body weight ratios of HFD+ Lr263 dead bacteria medium dose, HFD+ Lr263 dead bacteria high dose and FIFD+ Lr263 live bacteria groups were significantly lower than that of the HFD group (Fig. 4). Also, the visceral fat/body weight ratios of the rats fed with dead Lr263bacteria had declined over the time, and the reduction rates of HFD+ Lr263 dead bacteria low dose, HFD+ Lr263 dead bacteria medium dose, HFD+ Lr263 dead bacteria high dose groups were 20.9%, 23.2% and 31%, respectively, when compared with the HFD group.

D. The effect of Lr263 bacteria on gonadal fat/body weight ratio: According to the abovementioned results of total adipose tissue/body weight ratios, the change of gonadal fat was further investigated at week 12. Likewise, the gonadal fat/body weight ratios of HFD-i-Lr263 dead bacteria medium dose, HFD+ Lr263 dead bacteria high dose and HFD+ Lr263 live bacteria groups were significantly lower than that of the HFD group (Fig. 5), and the gonadal fat/body weight ratios of the rats fed with dead Lr263 bacteria had declined over the time and the reduction rates of HFD+ Lr263 dead bacteria low dose, HFD+ Lr263 dead bacteria medium dose, HFD+ Lr263 dead bacteria high dose groups were 10.0%, 3 1.8% and 33.7%, respectively, when compared with the HFD group.

E. The effect of Lr263 bacteria on liver function: Following feeding with different diets/treatments, serum AST (U/L) and ALT (U/L) each group were examined at the end of week 12. According to the results, serum AST levels were significantly lower in the HFD+ Lr263 dead bacteria low dose, l-IFD+ Lr263 dead bacteria high dose and HFD+ Lr263 live bacteria groups than that of the HED group (Fig. 6), whereas no significance was found in the HFD+Shirota group when compared with the HFD group.

Furthermore, serum ALT levels are significantly lower in the groups of HFD+ Lr263 dead bacteria low dose, HFD+ Lr263 dead bacteria medium dose, HFD+ Lr263 dead bacteria high dose and HFD+ Lr263 live bacteria than that of the HFD group (Fig. 6), whereas no significance was found in the HFD+Shirota group when compared with the HFD group.

Unpredictably, dead Lr263 bacteria at low dose (5x105 celllmlirat) can effectively lower serum AST as well as ALT levels and exert the same effects as obtained from the group fed with high dose of live Lr263 bacteria (2x109 cell/mi/rat) and the results are even comparable to those observed in normal diet group.

F. The effect of Lr263 bacteria on blood lipid levels: Following feeding with different diets/treatments, the serum T-CHO (mg/dL) and TO (mg/dL) levels of each group were examined at the end of week 12. From the results, the concentrations of total cholesterol detected in the groups of HFD+ Lr263 dead bacteria low dose, HFD+ Lr263 dead bacteria medium dose, HFD+ Lr263 dead bacteria high dose and HFD+ Lr263 live bacteria were all significantly lower than that of the HFD group (Fig. 7). Likewise, triglyceride levels were also significantly lower in the HFD+ Lr263 dead bacteria low dose, HFD+ Lr263 dead bacteria medium dose, HFD+ Lr263 dead bacteria high dose and HFD+ Lr263 live bacteria groups when compared with the HFD group (Fig. 7).

Unexpectedly, dead Lr263 bacteria at low dose (5x 1 (i cell/mI/rat) can exert effects similar to those obtained from the group fed with normal diet.

C The effect of Lr263 bacteria on LDL/HDL ratios: Following feeding with different diets/treatments, the LDL/HDL ratio of each group was measured at the end of week 12. According to the results, the LDL/HDL ratios were significantly lower in the groups of HFD+ Lr263 dead bacteria low dose, HFD+ Lr263 dead bacteria medium dose, HFD+ Lr263 dead bacteria high dose and HFD+ Lr263 live bacteria than that of the HFD group (Fig. 8), whereas no significance was found in the HFD+Shirota group when compared with the HFD group.

Surprisingly, we found that feeding with low dose of dead Lr263 bacteria (5x105 celllml/rat) has almost the same effect as feeding with normal diet and the LDL/1-IDL ratio decreased more significantly with the increase of the bacterial dosage.

Many changes and modifications in the above described embodiment of the invention can, of course, be carried out without departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science and the useful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Table 4 The body weight (g) of rats measured between week 1 and 12 after feeding with Lr263 bacteria _______ ____________ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 192.750 248.125 291.375 327.375 375.250 387.000 403.833 412.500 450.333 438.667 450.167 476.167 462.500 Normal diet _______________ ±9.020 ±8.149 ±11.880 ±11.831 ±17.831 ±22.418 ±12.497 ±16.861 ±19.107 ±20.334 ±22.400 ±21.535 ±20.849 Norma' diet + 179.500 232.250 279.125 310.125 346.625 357.250 363.167 373.500 403.833 396.667 411.167 433.667 420.167 Lr263 dead ±20,213 ±19.271 ±19.060 ±22.267 ±25.895 ±25.672 ±23.404 ±25.122 ±27.953 ±29.857 ±35.358 ±37.724 ±34.557 bacteria High fat diet 183.875 231.000 271.875 307.000 352.000 380.625 425.667 452.500 491.333 502.167 523.333 555.000 542.667 (HFD) ±18.917 ±21.507 ±24.625 ±24.791 ±28.455 ±30.771 ±25.997 ±26,786* ±30.852# ±33.683* ±30.612 ±33100* ±34.932 HFD+ Shirota 193.125 242.375 280.250 317.000 358.750 384.500 415.000 429.000 478.500 487.000 495.500 526.333 525.333 dead bacteria ±6.357 ±6.255 ±10.430 ±12.862 ±14.849 ±18.815 ±19.246 ±20.248 ±27.848 ±28.914 ±25.805 ±29.460 ±23.956 HFD+ Lr263 dead 186.800 245.300 286.700 322.900 380.900 391.800 389.167 409.167 448.500 456.167 465.167 505.167 501.500 bacterialowdose ±17.061 ±23.185 ±31.202 ±38.197 ±54.490 ±47.893 ±25.949 ±26.248 ±26.972* ±22.194* ±29.027* ±20,634* ±14.694* HFD+ Lr263 dead 183.400 234.200 270.100 301.700 340.700 363.100 367.000 387.167 422.167 426.000 445.833 477.000 471.167 bacteria medium ±16.801 ±18.600 ±20.851 ±23.847 ±30.576 ±30.661 ±18.730 ±19.682 ±21.236* ±21.119* ±22.040* ±25.448* ±23.473* dose HFD+ Lr263 dead 191.000 232.800 266.100 301.000 340.400 367.600 374.500 392.333 426.667 434.833 460.167 489.000 482.167 bacteria ±7.803 ±7.584 ±8.863 ±15.706 ±21.454 ±26.171 ±10.766 ±13.231 ±12.501* ±12.859* ±18.723* ±21.457* ±23.912* high dose HFD+ Lr263 live 190.000 238.111 275.111 309.333 350.222 377.889 393.833 413.000 447.000 452.333 478.500 504.000 490.600 bacteria ±10.625 ±12.713 ±17.230 ±18.921 ±22.515 ±27.652 ±23.920 ±25.915 ±24.844* ±30.323* ±27.970* ±34.624* ±31.556* pcO.O5 data is statistically significant when compared with normal diet group * : pO.O5 data is statistically significant when compared with HED group Table 5 The body weight, fat ratio and serum biochemical analysis results measured after feeding Lr263 for 12 weeks Normal diet + HFD + Dead HFD + Low dose HFD + Medium HFD + High dose HFD + Live Lr263 Normal diet High fat diet (HFD) Dead Lr263 Shirota dead Lr263 dose dead Lr263 dead Lr263 l3odyweight(g) 462500±20.849 420167±34.557 542.667±34932 525333±23956 501.500±14694° 471167±23.473° 482167±23912° 490600±31556° Total adipose tissue! 3.65 I ±0.610 2.8 19 ±0.554 6.733 ±0.94V 4.975 ±0.843° 5.282 ±1.229 5.06 I ±0.110° 4.647 ±0.423° 5.121 ±1.001° Body_weight_(%) ________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ Weight of visceral fall 2.287±0.444 1.654±0.518 4.320±0.642 3.294±0.774° 3.417±0.824 3.317±0.430° 2.979±0.381 * 3 39±1.059° Body_weight_(%) _______________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ _______________ _______________ _______________ Weight of gonaclal fat 1.293±0.197 1.116±0.204 2.278±0.397° 1.681±0.181° 2.052±0.384 1.554±0.055° 1.510±0.252° 1.819±0.215° lBody_weight_(%) ________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ N.) Aspartate aminouansferase I l3.983±9.I86 146.367±22.128 196.050±60.014 135.517±12.464 115.850±15.880° 122.133±9.126 115.367±16.262° 121.225±12.265° (AST)_(JIlL) ____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ Alanine aminoansferase 51.133±9.573 53.250±2.134 I 23.350±64.353' 60.533±7.783 47.733±6.753° 47.383±5.064° 48.667±8.339° 54.720±11.876° (ALT) (JIlL) ____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ T-CHO (mgldL) 59.525±2.076 54.767±11.810 69.767±9.209 56.500±7.272* 51.617±3.992* 55.700±4.875° 47.633±3.307° 50.300±11.081* TO (mgldL) 52. 167±16.018 34.983±6.225 96.267±19.048° 50.967±9.148* 44.100±4.408* 56.417±13.582° 39.033±9.734° 45.883±8.695° LDL/I-IDL (%l 14.124±2.656 15.738±3.436 21.596±4.865° 19.221±3.139 15.211±2.021° 15.430±I.659° 12.543±2.212° 13.142±2.034° * : p<O.O5 data is statistically significant when compared with HFD group p<O.O5 data is statistically significant when compared with normal diet group

Claims

What is claimed is: 1. A composition for reducing or maintaining body weight, comprising a probiotic bacterial strain includes Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263 with the deposition number of CCTCC M 209263.
2. The composition as recited in claim 1, wherein the Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263 composition comprises at least one of the following ingredients: live bacteria, dead bacteria and cell lysates.
3. The composition as recited in claim I, wherein the composition is a pharmaceutical composition, food or their combinations thereof.
4. The composition as recited in claim 3, wherein the pharmaceutical composition may further comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.
5. The composition as recited in claim 3, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is prepared in a dosage form for oral administration.
6. The composition as recited in claim 5, wherein the dosage form is selected from group consisting of solution, suspension, emulsion, powder, tablet, pill, syrup, lozenge, troche, chewing gum, slurry, capsule.
7. The composition as recited in claim 3, wherein the food further comprise at least one of the prohiotic bacterial strains selected form the group consisting of Lacto bacillus sp., BWdobacteriurn sp., Streptococcus sp. and yeasts.
8. The composition as recited in claim 3, wherein the food further comprise an edible material and the edible material comprise water, fluid milk products, milk, concentrated milk, fermented milk, yogurt, sour milk, frozen yogurt, lactic acid bacteria-fermented beverages, milk powder, ice cream, cream cheeses, dry cheeses, soybean milk, fermented soybean milk, vegetable-fruit juices, juices, sports drinks, confectionery, jelly, candies, infant formulas, health foods, animal feeds, Chinese herbs or dietary supplements.
9. The composition as recited in claims 3, wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises at least one of the following cells: a daily dose of io to 10'° live, dead and cell lysates of Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263.
10. The composition as recited in claim 7, wherein the food comprises at least one of the following cells: a daily dose of l0 to 1010 live, dead and cell lysates of Lactohacillus reuteri GMNL-263.
11. A composition for the treatment of obesity and its complications, comprising a prohiotic bacterial strain includes Lactohacillus reuteri GMNL-263 with the deposition number of CCTCC M 209263.
12. The composition as recited in claim Ii, wherein the complications are selected from the groups consisting of hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease and fatty liver.
13. A composition for the treatment of inhibition of the biosynthesis of lipids, high total body fat, high visceral fat, high gonadal fat, high total cholesterol, high triglyceride concentration, or high LDL I HDL ratio, comprising a prohiotic bacterial strain includes Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263 with the deposition number of CCTCC M 209263.What is claimed is: 1. A composition for reducing or maintaining body weight, comprising the probiotic bacteria strain Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263 with the deposition number of CCTCC M 209263, wherein the Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263 bacteria is dead bacteria and further wherein the dosage of dead Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263 bacteria is between 5x105 and 5x io cells/day.2. The composition as recited in claim 1, wherein the composition is a pharmaceutical composition, food or their combinations thereof.3. The composition as recited in claim 2, wherein the pharmaceutical composition may further comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.4. The composition as recited in claim 2, wherein the pharmaceutical cc composition is prepared in a dosage form for oral administration.0 15 5. The composition as recited in claim 4, wherein the dosage form is 04 selected from group consisting of solution, suspension, emulsion, powder, tablet, pill, syrup, lozenge, troche, chewing gum, slurry, capsule.6. The composition as recited in claim 2, wherein the food further comprises at least one of the probiotic bacterial strains selected form the group consisting of Lactohacillus sp., BUldohacterium sp., Streptococcus sp. and yeasts.7. The composition as recited in claim 2, wherein the food further comprises an edible material and the edible material comprises water, fluid milk products, milk, concentrated milk, fermented milk, yogurt, sour milk, frozen yogurt, lactic acid bacteria-fermented beverages, milk powder, ice cream, cream cheeses, dry cheeses, soybean milk, fermented soybean milk, vegetable-fruit juices, juices, sports drinks, confectionery, jelly, candies, infant formulas, health foods, animal feeds, Chinese herbs or dietary supplements.8. A composition for the treatment of obesity and its complications, comprising the probiotic bacteria strain Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263 with the deposition number of CCTCC M 209263, wherein the Lactohacillus reuteri GMNL-263 bacteria is dead bacteria and further wherein the dosage of dead Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263 bacteria is between 5x105 and 5x109 cells/day.9. The composition as recited in claim 8, wherein the complications are selected from the groups consisting of hyperlipidemia, IC) atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease and fatty liver.10. A composition for the inhibition of the biosynthesis of lipids to O 15 reduce high total body tht, high visceral fat, high gonadal fat, high 04 total cholesterol, high triglyceride concentration, or high LDL I HDL ratio, comprising the probiotic bacteria strain Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263 with the deposition number of CCTCC M 209263, wherein the Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263 bacteria is dead bacteria and further wherein the dosage of dead Lactobacjllus reuteri (IIMNL-263 bacteria is between 5x105 and 5x109 cells/day.11. A cosmetic method for reducing or maintaining body weight, comprising the administration of the probiotic bacteria strain Lactohacillus reuteri GMNL-263 with the deposition number of CCTCC M 209263, wherein the Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263 bacteria is dead bacteria and further wherein the dosage of dead Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263 bacteria is between 5x105 and 5x I 0 cells/day.12. A composition according to any one of claims 1, 8 and 10 wherein the dosage of Lactohacillus reuteri GMNL-263 bacteria is between 5x105 and 2x109 cells/day. IA) IC)CD (Si