Hypocholesterolemic Effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus as a Dietary Supplement.

ABSTRACT

To study the effect of supplementation of Lactobacillus acidophilus on lipid profile in hypercholesterolemia individuals. Thirty hypercholesterolemia subjects (15 men and 15 women) with ages ranging between 42-53 years old were included in the study and the intervention was performed for a period of 60 days. During the intervention all 30 subjects were divided into three groups comprising of 10 individuals in each group. Group A and B were given 10 × 106 and 20 × 106 viable L. acidophilus organisms and Group C served as a nonsupplemented group. However, they were on medication to lower the cholesterol levels. Fasting blood samples were drawn initially at 0, 30 and after 60 days of supplementation, analyzed for lipid profile which included total cholesterol, triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. All the recruited subjects completed the study. Comparisons were made on lipid profile at different time periods i.e., 0, 30 and after 60 days of treatment. The supplementation of either 10 × 106 or 20 × 106 viable L. acidophilus showed significant reduction in cholesterol, triglycerides and increase of HDL cholesterol levels. The supplementation of L. acidophilus is found to be beneficial in altering the levels of lipid profile in hypercholesterolemic subjects.