Probiotics and Hypercholesterolemia

Probiotics are live microorganism which when consumed in enough amounts exert health effects on the host. Several animal and human studies showed that probiotics have beneficial effects in prevention and treatment of some diseases. In addition to improving gut health, immunity and protection against harmful microorganism, antihypertensive, antioxidative effects, anticarcinogenic properties, improving arthritis, reduction of dermatitis, obesity, probiotics have been also studied for their cholesterol reduction effects. The purpose of this study was to review recent researches in to lipid profile improving effect of probiotics in animals and humans. Probiotics exert lowering lipid profile through several mechanisms such as deconjugate bile acids through bile salt hydrolase catalysis, take up and assimilate cholesterol for stabilization of their cell membrane and binding cholesterol to cell walls of probiotics in intestine; conversion of cholesterol into coprostanol, inhibit hepatic cholesterol synthesis by short chain fatty acids such as propionate produced by probiotic bacteria and/or redistribution of cholesterol from plasma to the liver. Certain strains of probiotics have demonstrated cholesterol lowering properties while others did not. However, not all the trials have yielded conclusive results. Thus, more properly designed in vivo trials may bring additional understanding to eliminate the controversies, to better understand the underlying mechanisms and for safety assessment prior to consumption.