Probiotics Beverages: An Alternative Treatment for Metabolic Syndrome

Abstract The metabolic syndrome (MS) is considered an important worldwide topic since it is a complex disease. The MS is a disease set related with proinflammatory process that directly increases the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. Chronic inflammation has been associated with insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, visceral obesity, which is characterized by abnormal production of proinflammatory cytokines. Gut microbiota exerts a role in the MS. Changes in the diet and lifestyle affect the composition and functions and disrupt the gut microbiota balance. These changes have been associated with systemic inflammation and insulin resistance, characterized in MS. Modulation of the gut microbiota through the consumption of probiotic beverages is an alternative to reduce intestinal inflammation and improve the gut barrier integrity. Several studies have demonstrated that probiotic, in particular Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium , exert multiple beneficial effects on subjects with MS. There are currently several probiotic products on the market that offer the consumer an alternative to prevent disease and promote health. The main purpose of this chapter is to give a review of the gut microbiota modifications on people with MS, and know the role of probiotic beverages in the chronic inflammatory process, insulin resistance, and the microbiome balance reestablishment. Likewise, probiotic beverages have an important contribution to the dietetic treatment of MS.