Probiotics for Vascular Inflammation in Metabolic Syndrome

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