Okuka, Nina (58616429800)Nina (58616429800)OkukaIvanovic, Nevena Dj. (56062476600)Nevena Dj. (56062476600)IvanovicMilinkovic, Neda (35364467300)Neda (35364467300)MilinkovicPolovina, Snezana (35071643300)Snezana (35071643300)PolovinaSumarac-Dumanovic, Mirjana (7801558773)Mirjana (7801558773)Sumarac-DumanovicMinic, Rajna (59425101000)Rajna (59425101000)MinicDjordjevic, Brizita (23496361900)Brizita (23496361900)DjordjevicVelickovic, Ksenija (42062632100)Ksenija (42062632100)Velickovic2025-07-022025-07-022025https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo15050310https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105006435520&doi=10.3390%2fmetabo15050310&partnerID=40&md5=bb18f53f26b3939bebec904b9d29cf90https://remedy.med.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/11429Background/Objectives: The prevalence of obesity worldwide has rapidly increased. Numerous studies showed a beneficial effect of probiotics in obese individuals, and changes in hematological parameters are observed in obesity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a novel probiotic approach on the red blood cells (RBCs) and platelets. Methods: Twenty-five obese women participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled study and were divided into the experimental group (one capsule daily containing Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v (DSM9843), Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii, and 40 mg octacosanol; n = 13) and the placebo group (n = 12). Blood samples were collected for light microscopic examination, morphometric analysis, and an automated hematology analyzer. A possible relationship between hematological parameters and body mass index (BMI), a common indicator of obesity, was investigated using Spearman correlation. The plasma concentration of soluble P-selectin and fibrinogen were determined using an ELISA assay. All measurements were performed before (T0) and after 12 weeks of supplementation (T1). Results: The three-month supplementation of probiotics improved hemoglobin levels, chromic status, and red blood cell morphology. The mean platelet volume (MPV), a measure of platelet size, was restored to normal levels, platelet morphology was improved, and the number of activated platelets was significantly reduced (p < 0.05). A strong negative correlation (r = −0.5904, p < 0.05) was found between BMI and platelet distribution width (PDW), a measure of variation in platelet size and shape. Conclusions: The results show that the probiotic approach improves morphology and normalizes the values of disturbed hematological parameters of RBCs and platelets in obese women. © 2025 by the authors.clinical studyhematological parametersLactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v (DSM9843)obesityoctacosanolSaccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii