'Friendly' bacteria may help in reducing fat absorption

London, Jan 21 : A new study in mice has revealed that adding 'friendly' bacteria to the diet might one day help in reducing fat absorption.

For the study, Jeremy Nicholson and his colleagues from Imperial College London, used mice.

They fed strains of 'probiotic' Lactobacillus to mice whose gut microbes had been replaced by those that usually live in the human gut.

They had different bile acids from the norm, favouring enzymes that reduce the amount of fat digested.

"More fat is available for the microbes, and you then 'poo' the microbes out," New Scientist quoted Nicholson, as saying.

The researchers said that the changes may only reduce fat absorption by a little, but this could have an impact on obesity if sustained over several years.

ANI