Probiotics may help lower cholesterol
Posted 9 months ago by Jacob in General Health News
New research published in the BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine Journal, looked at the effects of two Lactobacilli strains on the metabolism and microbiota of rats that were fed high-cholesterol diets. The scientists wanted to study the hypocholesterolemic effects of lactic acid producing bacteria on the body weight, lipid metabolism and intestinal microflora of 40 rats. The rats were spilt into four groups and fed a normal or high-cholesterol diet. The rats that received the Lactobacilli strains were fed a high-cholesterol diet supplemented with either Lactobacillus plantarum 9-41-A or Lactobacillus fermentum M1-16. After six weeks the rats were tested and their body weights, visceral organ, fat pad weights, serum and liver cholesterol and lipid levels, and fecal cholesterol and bile acid concentrations were measured. The results showed that the rats that were fed high cholesterol diets and supplemented with a Lactobacilli bacteria showed much lower cholesterol levels throughout the body. Those supplemented also exhibited increased Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium colonies as well as decreased E. coli colonies. The scientists concluded that Lactobacilli supplementation has a cholesterol lowering effect in rats fed a high-cholesterol diet and may also improve the intestinal microbial balance and intestinal transit time. L. plantarum M1-16 may also play a role in fat metabolism, though further research is needed to understand the mechanism.
OptiBac says: Fascinating news, get your Lactic acid producing bacteria throughout our range.
Reference: Xie, N. et al. (2011) Effects of two Lactobacillus strains on lipid metabolism and intestinal microflora in rats fed a high-cholesterol diet. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 11:53
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