The Addition of Probiotic Consumption to a Nutritional Intervention and Caloric Restriction on Body Weight and Composition in Overweight Participants

Inclusion criteria

• Aged 18 to 55 years
• BMI between 27.0 and 39.9 kg/m2
• Sedentary to moderate active (less than 30 minutes of physical activity, 3 times per week)
• Willingness to complete questionnaires, records, and diaries associated with the study and to complete all study visits
• Willingness to discontinue consumption of fermented foods or probiotics (e.g. yoghourts, with live, active cultures or supplements), laxatives, prebiotics and any substance for body weight control
• Willingness and ability to provide informed consent in French
• Willingness to receive random assignment to probiotic or placebo supplementation
• Committed to losing weight over the 12-week study period

Exclusion criteria

• Smokers
• Use of another investigational product within three months of the pre-baseline period.
• Known to be pregnant or breast-feeding or planning on becoming pregnant in the next 18 months.

• Women of child-bearing potential not using effective contraception which include:
• Hormonal contraceptives including combined oral contraceptives, hormone birth control patch, vaginal contraceptive ring, injectable contraceptives, or hormonal implants
• Intrauterine devices (IUD) or Intrauterine system (IUS)
• Tubal ligation
• Vasectomy of partner
• Double barrier method (use of physical barrier by both partners, e.g. male condom and diaphragm, male condom and cervical cap)
• Positive pregnancy test in women of child-bearing potential
• Menopausal women
• Allergic to milk, soy, or yeast
• Weight gain or loss of at least 10 lbs in previous three months
• Inflammatory bowel syndrome, celiac disease, short bowel syndrome, or any other malabsorptive syndrome
• Uncontrolled angina within the past six months
• Insulin-dependent diabetes (oral medications are not exclusionary)
• Serious and/or unstable medical conditions (e.g. cardiovascular, renal, lung, psychiatric illness, bleeding disorders, etc.)
• Cancer treatment (radiation, chemotherapy, surgery) within past six months or any other treatment or condition known to weaken the immune system (such as systemic corticosteroids or HIVIAIDS).
• Any physical condition deemed likely to significantly interfere with individuals' ability to participate in a nutritional intervention.
• Currently or at any point during the study participating in Weight Watcher's or another weight loss program or taking a medication for weight loss.
• Under antibiotics or treatments (medication or nutritional program) affecting body weight Intake and/or energy expenditure
• History of drug or alcohol (> 9 drinks weekly) abuse
• Abnormal thyroid hormone levels
• Immune-compromised conditions
• Participant experiencing nausea, fever, vomiting, bloody diarrhoea or severe abdominal pain