Probiotics and Gut Health

Inclusion Criteria:

* BMI ≥ to 25 and less than 35 kg/m\^2
* Increased waist circumference (men: ≥ 94 cm, women: ≥ 80 cm)
* At least one of the metabolic syndrome criteria-
* serum triglycerides: ≥ 150 mg/dL
* HDL cholesterol: ≤ 40 mg/dL in men, ≤ 50 mg/dL in women
* blood pressure: ≥ 130 mmHg systolic or ≥ 85 mmHg diastolic
* fasting plasma glucose ≥ 100 mg/dL

Exclusion Criteria:

* allergy to dairy
* smoking and/or use of tobacco products
* systolic blood pressure ≥ 160 mmHg
* diastolic blood pressure \> 100 mmHg
* fasting glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL
* history of myocardial infarction, cardiovascular disease (CVD), stroke, diabetes mellitus, liver disease, kidney disease, thyroid disease (unless controlled on medication)
* use of cholesterol or lipid lowering medications
* use of anti-hypertensive or glucose lowering supplements (psyllium, fish oil capsules, soy lecithin, niacin, fiber, flax, phytoestrogens, and stanol/sterol supplemented foods)
* refusal to discontinue nutritional supplements, herbs, vitamins, or other probiotics
* clinical diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) e.g. Chron's disease or ulcerative colitis
* Use of antibiotics within the last 2 months
* excessive alcohol consumption (≥ 14 standard drinks per week)
* regular use of anti-inflammatory medications (e.g. aspirin, ibuprofen)