The perspective on cholesterol-lowering mechanisms of probiotics.
The use of probiotics as food components combats not only cardiovascular diseases but also many gastrointestinal tract disorders. Their health benefits along with their increased global market have interested scientists for better formulation and appropriate administration to the consumers. However, the lack of clear elucidation of their cholesterol-lowering mechanisms has complicated their proper dosage and administration to the beneficiaries. In this review, proposed mechanisms of cholesterol reduction such as deconjugation of bile via bile salt hydrolase activity, binding of cholesterol to probiotic cellular surface and incorporation into their cell membrane, production of SCFAs from oligosaccharides, coprecipitation of cholesterol with deconjugated bile, and cholesterol conversion to coprostanol have been discussed. Also, hypocholesterolemic effects on human- and animal-trial results, commonly used probiotics and synbiotics with effect on serum cholesterol regulation, types of bile salt hydrolase genes, and substrate specificities have been discussed.
School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, P. R. China; Department of Chemistry, College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda, Rwanda.
Nestor
N
Ishimwe
Eric B
EB
Daliri
Byong H
BH
Lee
Fang
F
Fang
Guocheng
G
Du
D000818:Animals; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D006801:Humans; D019936:Probiotics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D058616:Synbiotics / Q000032:analysis
D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D002784:Cholesterol
Cardiovascular  diseases; Hypocholesterolemic  effect; Prebiotics; Probiotics; Sepsis