Probiotics for lowering of cholesterol
There have been several mechanisms proposed for the purported cholesterol lowering effects of probiotics, including deconjugation of bile acids by bile-salt hydrolase enzymes of probiotics assimilation of cholesterol by probiotics co-precipitation of cholesterol with deconjugated bile cholesterol binding to cell walls of probiotics incorporation of cholesterol into the cellular membranes of probiotics during growth , conversion of cholesterol into coprostanol and productionof short-chain fatty acids upon fermentation by probiotics in the presence of prebiotics. |
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Numerous studies on the effects of probiotics on cholesterol have used animals as models. Shinnick et aL. studied the effect of processing on the ability of oat fiber to lower plasma and liver cholesterol concentrations in rats. Rats were fed diets containing 6% dietary fiber as cellulose, oat bran, high fiber oat flour or one of four processed high fiber oat flours for 3 wk; all diets also contained 1.0% cholesterol and 0.2% cholic acid. All of the oat products significantly lowered plasma and liver cholesterol without depressing food intake or weight gain. A study was conducted to determine the effect of glucomannan, chitosan), or an equal mixture of the two on cholesterol absorption and fat and bile acid excretion in rats .Total liver cholesterol was significantly reduced in all groups compared with the control group. Cholesterol absorption was significantly reduced from 37.5% in the control group to 20.2% in the glucomannan group, 18.2% in the combination and 9.4% in chitosan. Mice deficient in the LDL receptor have also been widely used as a model to mimic human atherosclerosis by feeding them Western diets with or without insulin-sensitizing agents; however, the time-course of atherosclerotic lesion development and distribution of lesions at specific time-points are yet to be established .Lin et aL. conducted a study aimed to investigate whether the combination of plant sterol esters with soy protein or soy isoflavones would have extra cholesterol-lowering effects. Hamsters were fed diets containing casein (control), plant sterol esters, intact soy protein, soy isoflavones, plant sterol esters plus soy protein, or plant sterol esters plus soy isoflavones for 5 wk. All diets contained 0.08 g cholesterol/100 g diet. The plant sterol esters and the soy protein diets significantly lowered the plasma total cholesterol concentration by 13% and 9%, respectively as compared to the control, whereas the isoflavone diet had no effect. The combination of plant sterol esters and soy protein decreased plasma total cholesterol by 26%. In conclusion, the combination of PSE and soy protein more dramatically lowers plasma lipids than the individual ingredients. Guinea pigs and pigs have also been used as models for humans in studies of cholesterol lowering drugs. Because these animals share some attributes with humans in terms of cholesterol and bile acid metabolism, plasma lipoprotein distribution, and regulation of liver cholesterol enzymes and digestive anatomy and physiology ] they are useful experimental models for research. Therefore the cholesterol lowering effects seen in these animal studies suggest a similar potential in humans.
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8 年Hey Sidhartha ! Good to see you on LinkedIn . Very interesting write up. Thanks for sharing.