Probiotics for Vascular Inflammation in Metabolic Syndrome

Inclusion criteria

• Male and female age > 50 years
• Presence of MetS as defined according to recent updated criteria (13): Presence of at least three of five criteria, namely abdominal obesity (waist circumference cut-off) depending on the recently published ethnic-based variations (14), triglycerides > 1.70 mmol/l, decreased HDL-cholesterol (< 1.0 mmol/l in men and < 1.3 mmol/l in women), systolic blood pressure > 130 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure > 85 mmHg, and FPG > 5.6 mmol/l.
• Willingness to complete questionnaires, records, and diaries associated with the study and to complete all clinic visits.
• Willingness to discontinue consumption of fermented foods or probiotics (e.g. yoghourts, with live, active cultures or supplements).
• Able to provide informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Concurrent consumption of fermented foods or probiotics (e.g. yoghourts, with live, active cultures or supplements). Subjects will be eligible for participation, however, after a two-week washout period
• Overt or documented vascular disease (coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, or peripheral vascular disease).
• Participants suffering from dementia (mini mental state examination) or depression (geriatric depression scale).
• Concurrent statin therapy. (Statins have been shown to reduce vascular inflammation as measured by FDG-PET-see section 9.1).
• Color blind
• Concurrent antibiotic therapy. However, screened participants would be eligible to participate two weeks after completing their course of antibiotics (wash-out period).
• Known to be pregnant or breast-feeding or planning on becoming pregnant in the next 18 months.
• Women of childbearing potential not using effective contraception. Acceptable methods of birth control includes:
• 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 childbearing potential.
• Allergy to milk, soy, or yeast.
• Use of another investigational product within 3 months of the screening visit.
• Claustrophobia
• Patient with pacemaker
• Patient with BMI greater than 40 kg/m2
• Immune disorder.
• Drug and alcohol abuse
• Current use of NSAIDs
• Liver and kidney disorders
• Bleeding/blood disorder