Effect of Administration of Lactobacillus gasseri on Serum Lipids and Fecal Steroids in Hypercholesterolemic Rats

Abstract

The effects of milk and nonfermented milks produced from Lactobacillus gasseri on serum lipids and total bile acids and fecal steroids and microflora were estimated in rats fed cholesterol-enriched diets. Lactobacilli decreased and coliforms increased in feces of the control group; however, the concentrations of fecal lactobacilli remained unchanged when rats were fed nonfermented milks. Fecal coliforms in rats receiving milk and nonfermented milk produced from L. gasseri SBT0270 increased, while rats receiving nonfermented milk produced from L. gasseri SBT0274 had lower fecal coliform count than did the control group. Only NFM-A significantly reduced serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and bile acids. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was significantly decreased when rats were given milk and nonfermented milks. Milk and NFM-A lowered serum triglycerides levels. Milk and nonfermented milks did not affect the total neutral steroids, but higher levels of acidic steroid were detected in the feces than the control group. The results showed that the hypocholesterolemic effect of L. gasseri SBT0270 was attributed to its ability to suppress the reabsorption of bile acids into the enterohepatic circulation and to enhance the excretion of acidic steroids in feces of hypercholesterolemic rats.

Effects on growth performance, faecal microflora and plasma cholesterol after supplementation of spray-dried metabolite to postweaning rats

“…This is in contrast with the results obtained by Foo et al (2003a,b) and Loh et al (2003). However, Usman and Hosono (2000) reported that the rats fed with non-fermented milk produced from Lb. gasseri were maintaining a high level of faecal lactobacilli throughout the experimental period.…”

“…plantarum in the diet of rats (Foo et al, 2003a). Usman and Hosono (2000) also reported that non-fermented milk produced from Lb. gasseri significantly reduced serum total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and bile acids of rats.…”

Hypocholesterolaemic Effects of Probiotics

“…Usman and Hosono [10] also observed a significant reduction in TC and LDL-C in rats fed L. gasseri. In a more recent study, B. longum SPM1207 isolated from healthy adult Koreans reduced serum TC and LDL-C significantly (p <0.05), and slightly increased serum HDL-C in rats [11].…”

“…In a more recent study, B. longum SPM1207 isolated from healthy adult Koreans reduced serum TC and LDL-C significantly (p <0.05), and slightly increased serum HDL-C in rats [11]. In another study, Shin et al [10] demonstrated that B. longum SPM1207, although killed by sonication, could significantly reduce serum TC and LDL-C, but with no significant improvement in HDL-C when fed to rats for 3 weeks [66]. Kumar et al [67] revealed a 23% reduction in plasma TC, 38% reduction in LDL-C and 19% increase in HDL-C of rats fed with L. plantarum Lp91, a bile salt hydrolase producing strain.…”

“…Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that influence the health of the host by improving their microbial balance. Modifications of intestinal flora have been shown to be beneficial on lipid metabolism in mice [2][3][4][5][6], rats [7][8][9][10][11], guinea pigs [12] and pigs [13]. In contrast, studies in humans [14,15] indicated that the role of fermented milk products as hypocholesterolaemic agents were inconsistent but more reliable effects were documented in the recent clinical studies [16][17][18][19].…”