title: Lactic acid bacteria affect serum cholesterol levels, harmful fecal enzyme activity, and fecal water content.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are beneficial probiotic organisms that contribute to improved nutrition, microbial balance, and immuno-enhancement of the intestinal tract, as well as lower cholesterol. Although present in many foods, most trials have been in spreads or dairy products. Here we tested whether Bifidobacteria isolates could lower cholesterol, inhibit harmful enzyme activities, and control fecal water content.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro culture experiments were performed to evaluate the ability of Bifidobacterium spp. isolated from healthy Koreans (20 approximately 30 years old) to reduce cholesterol-levels in MRS broth containing polyoxyethanylcholesterol sebacate. Animal experiments were performed to investigate the effects on lowering cholesterol, inhibiting harmful enzyme activities, and controlling fecal water content. For animal studies, 0.2 ml of the selected strain cultures (108 approximately 109 CFU/ml) were orally administered to SD rats (fed a high-cholesterol diet) every day for 2 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  B. longum SPM1207 reduced serum total cholesterol and LDL levels significantly (p < 0.05), and slightly increased serum HDL. B. longum SPM1207 also increased fecal LAB levels and fecal water content, and reduced body weight and harmful intestinal enzyme activities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Daily consumption of B. longum SPM1207 can help in managing mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia, with potential to improve human health by helping to prevent colon cancer and constipation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Sahmyook University, Seoul 139-742, Republic of Korea. 015790@hanmail.net
authors.forename: Do Kyung
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seok
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Eun Hye
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Mi Jin
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyung Soon
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hea Soon
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Myung Jun
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Jin Eung
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kang Oh
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Nam Joo
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Ha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000494:pharmacology; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D014867:Water; D002784:Cholesterol