[Progress in the effect of probiotics on cholesterol and its mechanism].
Because in vitro studies have shown that bacteria can remove cholesterol from culture media, much attention has been given to the cholesterol-lowering potential of probiotics--especially Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, which survive passage through the gastrointestinal tract and have beneficial effects on the host. Recent research development concerning the in vitro and in vivo experimental data were reviewed in this paper, including relationship between microbial growth and removal of cholesterol, impact of pH, function of bile salts, BSH activities, prebiotics, feeding trial on human beings and animals. Moreover, some hypotheses on mechanism of cholesterol removal were discussed, such as co-precipitation with bile salts, deconjugation of BSH to bile salts, incorporation of cholesterol into the cellular membrane and microbial assimilation of cholesterol. In addition, the future research directions and the prospect of the probiotics were also viewed.
Zhao
Jia-rui
JR
School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China. jerress-zhao@yahoo.com.cn
Yang
Hong
H
D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000378:metabolism; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000378:metabolism
D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D002784:Cholesterol