A randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial demonstrating efficacy of different probiotic strains on serum lipids and glycemic biomarker

Abstract

Background: the aim of this randomized placebo-controlled study was to investigate the effect of probiotics mainly on plasma lipids, homocysteine levels, glycemic biomarkers and inflammatory marker in people with hyperlipidemia, compared to a placebo. Methods: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study was completed with a total of 51 men and women who have diagnosed with hyperlipidemia. The three study interventions were: 1) probiotic group I asked to take once a day 1 x 106 colony forming unit (CFU) Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG microorganism (n = 18) capsule; 2) probiotic group II asked to take once a day of a combined Lactobacillus acidophilus 1 x 109 CFU and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp.lactis 1 x 109 CFU probiotic capsule (n = 17); and 3) placebo group: emptied capsule (n = 16), plasma lipids, homocysteine, and glycemic biomarkers were were performed at baseline and week 8. Also, hs-CRP levels was assessed as inflammatory parameter. Results: compared to baseline there was a significant decrease in triglyceride and total cholesterol levels of the both intervention groups compared to the placebo group. Regarding the glycemic biomarkers. both intervention groups significantly alter the HOMA-IR values compared to the placebo group (p < 0.05). When homocysteine values were evaluated. a statistically significant decrease was observed only in the group using the combined strain (p < 0.05). Results demonstrated that regular and strain-specific use of probiotics have effective and favorable consequences on plasma lipids and glycemic biomarkers. Conclusion: probiotics containing Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium could be effective in hypercholesterolemic patients, reducing serum lipids as well as homocysteine and glycaemia.