Cholesterol-Lowering Effects of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria Probiotics in vitro and in vivo

Abstract

Two lactobacilli strains; Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 20079 and Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 20179 and two bifidobacteria strains; Bifidobacterium bifidum GSGG 5286 and Bifidobacterium longum ATCC 15707 were studied their abilities to reduce the cholesterol content in vitro. It was investigated that the in vivo cholesterol-lowering effect of L. plantarum ATCC 20179, B. bifidum GSGG 5286 and mixture of both probiotics (L. plantarum ATCC20179 and B. bifidum GSGG5286) on hyperlipidaemic rats for 8 weeks. All lactobacilli and bifidobacteria strains assimilate the cholesterol content in laboratory media. It was observed the highest assimilation of cholesterol was in L. plantarum ATCC 20179 and B. bifidum GSGG 5286 strains. In vivo, L. plantarum ATCC 20179  group was more effective in improving serum lipid profile levels [total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein – cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein – cholesterol                   (HDL-C), very low density lipoprotein – cholesterol (VLDL-C) and Atherogenic Index (AI)],                      liver enzyme activities (ALT, AST and ALP),  malonaldehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and total antioxidants capacity (TAC) levels than mixed-organisms and B. bifidum groups, respectively of hyperlipidaemic rats. It was concluded that L. plantarum ATCC 20179 showed more                     favourable results than B. bifidum GSGG 5286 in relation to cardiovascular risk factors in hyperlipidaemic rats.