Abstract
BackgroundSome probiotics have hypocholesterolemic effects in animal studies, which are mediated, in part, by increases in fecal short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Clinical trials of probiotics on lipids/lipoproteins are inconsistent.ObjectiveWe examined the effects of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12® (BB-12®) (3.16 × 109 CFUs/day) on lipids and lipoproteins and fecal excretion of SCFAs in healthy adults.MethodsIn a randomized, partially blinded, 4-period, crossover study, 30 adults (11 men, 19 women) aged 18–40 years were randomly assigned to: 1) yogurt smoothie with no BB-12® (YS), 2) yogurt smoothie with BB-12® added pre-fermentation (PRE), 3) yogurt smoothie with BB-12® added post-fermentation (POST), 4) BB-12® containing capsule (CAP). We measured serum lipids/lipoproteins, glucose, insulin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and fecal SCFAs at baseline and after each treatment period.ResultsTotal cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides (TGs) did not differ after the PRE, POST, and CAP periods versus the YS or between treatments. Compared to baseline, fecal acetate was significantly increased after the YS (Δ = 211.89 ± 75.87 μg/g, P = 0.007) and PRE (Δ = 204.98 ± 75.70 μg/g, P = 0.009) periods. The percent increase in fecal acetate was significantly greater after the YS versus the POST period (52.2 ± 13.2% vs. 24.5 ± 13.2%, P = 0.023). Fecal total SCFAs, propionate and butyrate did not differ between treatment periods. Fecal total SCFAs were negatively associated with TC (r = -0.22, P = 0.01), LDL-C (r = -0.24, P = 0.004), age (r = -0.33, P < 0.001), and waist circumference (r = -0.25, P = 0.003).ConclusionsBB-12® supplementation did not improve lipids, lipoproteins and total and individual fecal SCFAs. Fecal SCFAs were negatively associated with TC, LDL-C, age, and waist circumference.Trial registrationThis trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01399996.
Highlights
Some probiotics have hypocholesterolemic effects in animal studies, which are mediated, in part, by increases in fecal short chain fatty acids (SCFAs)
The present study assessed the effect of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12® (BB-12)® on the lipid/lipoprotein profile and fecal SCFAs excretion
The observed a lack of a BB-12® effect on the lipid/lipoprotein profile agrees with a prior study in which a mixture of BB-12 and L. acidophilus La5 was tested [19]
Summary
Some probiotics have hypocholesterolemic effects in animal studies, which are mediated, in part, by increases in fecal short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Some clinical trials showed that TC and LDL-C decreased after supplementation with specific probiotics [15,16,17] and in hyperlipidemic children [18], but other studies showed no effects [19,20,21]. These inconsistent results may be attributed to different strains (Lactobacillus reuteri NCIMB 30242, Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus acidophilus La5, Bifidobacterium lactis BB12®) and doses of probiotics (4.0 x 106 - 3.0 × 1010 CFU/g daily), delivery matrix (capsule vs yogurt), study duration (2–60 weeks), and heterogeneous study population (healthy or with hypercholesterolemia or diabetes)
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