#3 Probiotics and vitamin D levels
Intriguing data from a post-hoc analysis of a published randomized controlled trial indicated that daily supplements of probiotic strain Lactobacillus reuteri NCIMB 30242 may boost circulating vitamin D levels in the blood by 25%.
The study, published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, was said to be the first to show that oral probiotic supplements may increase circulating levels of the sunshine vitamin.
“This study, part of an ongoing line of research in bile metabolism and Western disease, is adding to the body of knowledge on the microbiome and its role in human health,” explained Mitchell Jones MD, PhD, lead study author and chief scientific officer, Micropharma Limited.
“Although it has long been known that the gastrointestinal tract plays an active role in the absorption of vitamin D, these findings showing improved vitamin D status in response to an orally delivered probiotic are a first, and will inform the development of new products that may be beneficial for people with low vitamin D levels.”