The Effects of a Dietary Intervention with a Synbiotic Beverage on Women with Type 2 Diabetes, Overweight, or Obesity

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report (Previous Reviewer 1)

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

 

It is a resubmitted manuscript. This manuscript investigates the effects of a synbiotic beverage in women with type 2 diabetes (T2D), who are overweight or obese. The study was a double-blinded, randomized experiment involving a 12-week dietary intervention with a synbiotic fermented beverage. A total of 51 women were divided into four groups. Body composition and biochemical profiles were assessed after the 12-week intervention.

 

 

The following suggestions are offered for revision.

1. Significant changes in BMI (P<0.001) and fat mass (P<0.001) were observed in the calorie-restricted diet and synbiotic beverage group (G2), while no significant changes were noted in the HOMA index or serum insulin levels. The author should verify the accuracy of these findings carefully.

 

Line 27

The total mean of ages of the 4 groups was 42.90 ± 10.6.

There is no any data about the age in the manuscript. It shall be deleted.

 

Line 28~30

The significant changes were in BMI (P<0.001), fat mass (P<0.001), HOMA-index (P<0.001) and serum insulin serum (P<0.001), after the 12 week dietary intervention, proving the effect of the synbiotic.

(1) The significant changes on HOMA-index and serum insulin are only found in group G1, not in the synbiotic beverage groups (G2 and G3).

(2) serum insulin serum

 

Line 70

It should be “double-blinded”.

 

Line 96 (Figure 1)

(1)The resolution of Figure 1 is not enough. The authors should provide higher resolution figure.

 

Line 101

The full name of the strains L. plantarum and L. paracasei should be presented.

 

Line 104

± 130

 

Line 105

patent No. 371480

 

Line 108

kept in refrigeration (41ºC)? or (4ºC)

 

Line 138

It should be “fat mass (kg)”.

 

Line 143

It should be “fat mass (%)”.

 

Line 145

SD = 3.9

 

Line 151 (Table 1)

* p<0.05

However, several data (0.058 and 0.051) are bigger than 0.05 in group 1 and 3.

 

Line 156

P=0.006 of the group 2.

 

Line 159 (Table 2)

* p<0.05

However, several data (0.054) are bigger than 0.05 in group 2.

 

Line 166~170

The p values should be corrected.

“biochemical profiles it was found that the serum insulin showed statistically significant with the 12-weeks after measure weight (P=0.003) and for the fat mass (kg) too (P=0.017). HbA1C (P=0.008) and serum glucose (P= 0.049) were statistically significant compare to waist-hip ratio.”

 

Line 280

HOMA-index and serum insulin

Comments on the Quality of English Language

no comment

Author Response

REVIEWER RESPONSE

The conclusion was written again.

 

It is a resubmitted manuscript. This manuscript investigates the effects of a synbiotic beverage in women with type 2 diabetes (T2D), who are overweight or obese. The study was a double-blinded, randomized experiment involving a 12-week dietary intervention with a synbiotic fermented beverage. A total of 51 women were divided into four groups. Body composition and biochemical profiles were assessed after the 12-week intervention.

 

 

The following suggestions are offered for revision.

1. Significant changes in BMI (P<0.001) and fat mass (P<0.001) were observed in the calorie-restricted diet and synbiotic beverage group (G2), while no significant changes were noted in the HOMA index or serum insulin levels. The author should verify the accuracy of these findings carefully.

 

Response 1: It was already changed.

 

 

Line 27

The total mean of ages of the 4 groups was 42.90 ± 10.6.

There is no any data about the age in the manuscript. It shall be deleted.

 Response line 27: Ready.

 

Line 28~30

The significant changes were in BMI (P<0.001), fat mass (P<0.001), HOMA-index (P<0.001) and serum insulin serum (P<0.001), after the 12 week dietary intervention, proving the effect of the synbiotic.

(1) The significant changes on HOMA-index and serum insulin are only found in group G1, not in the synbiotic beverage groups (G2 and G3).

(2) serum insulin serum

 Response line 28 -30: Ready.

 

Line 70

It should be “double-blinded”.

 Response line 70: Ready.

 

Line 96 (Figure 1)

(1)The resolution of Figure 1 is not enough. The authors should provide higher resolution figure.

 

Response line 96: It was added in the higher resolution, however, we can send it sepparatly for better resolution. 

 

Line 101

The full name of the strains L. plantarum and L. paracasei should be presented.

 Response line 101: Ready.

 

Line 104

± 130

Response line 104: Ready.

 

Line 105

patent No. 371480

Response line 105: Ready.

 

Line 108

kept in refrigeration (41ºC)? or (4ºC)

 Response line 108: Ready.

 

Line 138

It should be “fat mass (kg)”.

 Response line 138: Ready.

 

Line 143

It should be “fat mass (%)”.

 Response line 143: Ready.

 

Line 145

SD = 3.9

Response line 145: Ready.

 

Line 151 (Table 1)

* p<0.05

However, several data (0.058 and 0.051) are bigger than 0.05 in group 1 and 3.

 Response line 151: It was already changed.

 

Line 156

P=0.006 of the group 2.

 Response line 156: Ready.

 

Line 159 (Table 2)

* p<0.05

However, several data (0.054) are bigger than 0.05 in group 2.

 Response line 159: It was already changed.

 

Line 166~170

The p values should be corrected.

“biochemical profiles it was found that the serum insulin showed statistically significant with the 12-weeks after measure weight (P=0.003) and for the fat mass (kg) too (P=0.017). HbA1C (P=0.008) and serum glucose (P= 0.049) were statistically significant compare to waist-hip ratio.”

 Response line 166 - 170: It was already changed.

 

Line 280

HOMA-index and serum insulin

 Response line 280: Ready.

 

 

 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report (Previous Reviewer 2)

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The article meets the requirements of the journal and is recommended for acceptance.

Author Response

Thank you.

 

Best regards

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report (Previous Reviewer 1)

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

no more comments

Comments on the Quality of English Language

NO

This manuscript is a resubmission of an earlier submission. The following is a list of the peer review reports and author responses from that submission.

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

 

This manuscript investigates the effects of a synbiotic beverage in women with type 2 diabetes (T2D), who are overweight or obese. The study was a double-blinded, randomized experiment involving a 12-week dietary intervention with a synbiotic fermented beverage. A total of 51 women were divided into four groups. Body composition and biochemical profiles were assessed after the 12-week intervention.

 

The following suggestions are offered for revision.

1. The inclusion criteria were women aged between 30 and 50 years, diagnosed with T2D approximately three years prior.

However, the mean values of age were 42.90 ± 10.6 for the 51 participants, for G1 was 43.67 ± 9.4, G2 40.17 ± 8.1, G3 46.85 ± 14 and G4 40.18 ± 9.8 years.

The standard deviation (SD) values are too large, and the women's age should be over 50. Please check the correctness.

In addition, the representation of significant figures should be consistent.

 

2. The authors should carefully describe the data. The purposes and results of G3 and G4 should also be discussed.

 

3. The authors should discuss the possible active ingredients in the synbiotic Beverage in the manuscripts.

 

Line 21

It should be “double-blinded”.

 

Line 25~26

“The significant changes were in BMI (P>0.001), total fat mass (P>0.001), HOMA-index (P>0.001) and serum insulin serum (P>0.001).”

(1) P>0.001 or P<0.001? Please check the correctness.

(2) “total fat mass” should be “fat mass”. Please check the correctness.

 

Line 30

Synbiotic; fermented beverage; diabetes; overweight; obesity

 

Line 74 (Figure 1)

(1)The resolution of Figure 1 is not enough. The authors should provide higher resolution figure.

(2) The words in the Follow-up section are incomplete and contain omissions.

 

Line 77~79

(1) What is the concentration (CFU/mL) of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum?

(2) In reference 7, L. plantarum, L. paracasei and L. brevis were added. How many bacteria strains were used in the text?

(3) The authors should describe how to prepare the synbiotic beverage and placebo beverage in detail.

 

Line 85

The full name of HOMA-index should be present.

 

Line 86

(1)What is the diet for group 3 and 4? Only synbiotic Mexican fermented beverage and group four (G4) consumed a placebo beverage.

(2) Did these subjects receive other medications?

 

Line 101~102

“The mean values of age were 42.90 ± 10.6 for the 51 participants, for G1 was 67 ± 9.4, G2 40.17 ± 8.1, G3 46.85 ± 14 and G4 40.18 ± 9.8 years,”

The representation of significant figures should be consistent.

 

Line 106

before and after “de” 12-week dietary

Please check the correctness.

 

Line 108

P=0.015

 

Line 110

It should be “The fat total mass (%)”.

 

Line 111

P =0.003

 

Line 112

P =0.044

 

Line 114

P =0.006 and P =0.017

 

Line 115 (Table 1)

(1) The method for calculation the P values should be described in the Table footnote.

(2) The name of group (G1~4) should be described in the table.

(3) The sum of Fat Total Mass (%), Fat-Free Mass (%), and Total Body Water (%) should equal 100%. Please check the correctness.

(4) The values of BMI should be checked again. For example, BMI values should be 34.5 (before) and 34.0 (after) in G2 group.

(5) The mean of  “*” should be described in the Table footnote.

(6) The difference of Height (m) were significant in three groups (G1,2,4). However, all the values of Height were 1.5 meter. Please check the correctness.

 

Line 119

P =0.006

 

Line 120

P =0.054

 

Line 122 (Table 2)

(1) Spelling errors:

Serum insulin (µIU/mL)

Standard Deviation (In the Table footnote)

different (in the table 2 title)

(2) The mean of “*” should be described in the Table footnote.

(3) The method for calculation the P values should be described in the Table footnote.

 

Line 133 (Table 3)

(1)Pearson Correlation Coefficients (r2) or r² ?

(2) The full name of “rs” should be present.

(3) The method for calculation the P values should be described in the Table footnote.

(4) The method for calculation of Pearson Correlation Coefficients should be described in “Materials and Methods”.

 

Line 144 and Figure 2

Spelling errors: Serum insulin (µIU/mL)

 

Line 152

It should be synbiotic Mexican fermented beverage.

 

Line 159

“According to findings of present trial, there were not significant differences in weight loss.”

It is not consistent with the data in Table 1.

 

Line 163~164

“showed significant differences changes in the BMI”

The data of BMI in Table 1 should be checked again.

 

Line 166~167

“On the other hand, the findings on biochemical profile reported significant changes on HOMA-index and serum insulin.”

The significant changes on HOMA-index and serum insulin was only found in group G1, not in the synbiotic beverage groups (G2 and G3).

 

 

 

Line 175

Our data confirmed that several other authors found before, where there is a promising associations with blood glucose levels. In present study, as described in results section the fermented beverage with synbiotics have contributed to considerable changes.

However, blood glucose levels in all the four groups were increase. Please discuss the results.

 

Line 175

It was also proved that the dose and duration of these beverage was adequate to positively change the serum insulin in our trial.

It is not consistent with the data of serum insulin in Table 1.

 

Line 193

It should be T2D.

 

Line 201~203

“The Discussion should provide an evaluation of the results. There should be a clear discussion of the implications, significance, and novelty of the results presented and whether the data support or contradict previous studies. A final conclusion may be added.”

It should be deleted.

 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

NO comments

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

 

1.       It is strongly recommended that the author introduce in the forefront how prebiotics intervene or affect blood sugar elevation by influencing gut microbiota or pathways.

2.       The author only conducted experiments on a few blood glucose indicators in the population to analyze the contribution of lowering blood glucose and inhibiting obesity, and the discussion and analysis were too simplistic.

3.       The author can discuss and analyze the potential benefits of probiotics in beverages for lowering blood sugar and obesity.

4.       The text volume of this article is relatively large, but the author has not condensed the characteristics and innovations from the research object. The correlation between the studied indicators needs to be discussed and analyzed in depth.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

None