Anti-Hypercholesterolemic Effect of Saccharomyces boulardii in the Hamster

Abstract

Background/Aims: Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease and probiotics have been suggested as tools to manage elevated cholesterol levels. Methods: The present study investigated the ability of the biotherapeutic agent Saccharomyces boulardii (Sb-Biocodex) to reduce the hypercholesterolemia induced by a 0.1% cholesterol-enriched diet in the hamster. Results: In a first experiment, chronic oral treatment with S. boulardii at 12  10¹⁰ CFU/kg (3 g/kg) twice a day was started from the beginning of the cholesterol diet and continued for 14 days (‘preventive protocol'). In the second experiment, S. boulardii was given 14 days after the beginning of the cholesterol diet when hypercholesterolemia had developed and continued for an additional 14 days (‘curative protocol'). In the preventive protocol, administration of the yeast significantly reduced hypercholesterolemia (14%) induced by the cholesterol-enriched diet compared to the group receiving only the cholesterol diet. In the curative protocol, S. boulardii significantly reduced hypercholesterolemia (12%) induced by the cholesterol-enriched diet, too. Moreover, the yeast significantly decreased the serum triglyceride increase by 39%. Conclusion:S. boulardii possesses anti-hypercholesterolemic properties in the hamster worthy of further evaluation in clinical studies. i 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel