title: Bifidobacteria supplementation: effects on plasma lipid profiles in dyslipidemic children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Preclinical investigations support the use of probiotics in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia, but clinical evidence is often contrasting. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a probiotic formulation containing three Bifidobacterium strains on lipid profiles in children affected by primary dyslipidemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight children with dyslipidemia, ages 10.8 ± 2.1 y, were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study. After a 4-wk diet run-in period, the children received probiotics (B. animalis subspecies lactis MB 2409, B. bifidum MB 109B, and B. longum subspecies longum BL04) or placebo for 3 mo. After 1 mo, wash-out treatments were switched. A strict dietary evaluation concerning satured fatty acids and cholesterol content, STEP I diet accordingly, was performed by a dietitian who examined the weekly dietary diary at each visit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline lipid profile was (mean ± SD): total cholesterol (TC) 222.8 ± 23.2 mg/dL, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) 55.8 ± 12.2 mg/dL, triglycerides (TG) 99.0 ± 61.7 mg/dL, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) 147.2 ± 21.9 mg/dL. After 3 mo of probiotic treatment, the lipid profile was: TC 211.9 ± 27.3 mg/dL, HDL-C 60.7 ± 14.2 mg/dL, TG 79.5 ± 34.5 mg/dL, and LDL-C 135.3 ± 24.2 mg/dL. Compared with placebo, probiotics reduced TC by 3.4% (P = 0.02) and LDL-C by 3.8% (P = 0.001). No significant dietary change occurred through the study and no relevant adverse effects were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with a Bifidobacterium probiotic formulation was well tolerated and useful in combination with to diet therapy. Children with dyslipidemia benefited from this approach, although the results need to be confirmed by larger controlled studies.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze della Sanità pubblica e Pediatriche, Università di Torino, Torino, Italy. Electronic address: ornella.guardamagna@unito.it.
authors.forename: Ornella
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Guardamagna
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amaretti
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Cardiovascolari, Università la Sapienza di Roma, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo Emilio
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Puddu
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raimondi
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze della Sanità pubblica e Pediatriche, Università di Torino, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Abello
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze della Sanità pubblica e Pediatriche, Università di Torino, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cagliero
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Maddalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rossi
mesh_terms: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001644:Bifidobacterium; D002648:Child; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D050171:Dyslipidemias; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: Bifidobacterium; Child; Dyslipidemia; Hypercholesterolemia; Probiotics