In a recent study, it has been shown that certain probiotics have cholesterol-lowering potential. The new study titled "Effect of probiotics on biomarkers of cardiovascular disease: implications for heart-healthy diets," is published in the January issue of Nutrition Reviews. The study was designed to assess cholesterol-lowering potential of certain probiotics through examination of 26 clinical studies and two meta-analyses. More specifically, the scientists examined whether probiotics could reduce LDL-cholesterol.
Among the several probiotics examined, the probiotics that best met therapeutic lifestyle change (TLC) dietary requirements was L. reuteri NCIMB 30242 (Cardioviva™).
The researchers found that this probiotics significantly reduced LDL (bad) cholesterol and total cholesterol with robustness similar to that of existing TLC dietary options. It was also found to improve other coronary heart disease risk factors, such as inflammatory biomarkers, and it is, in addition, generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) status.
Although heart disease is a leading cause of death worldwide, and most adults (91 percent) claim to maintain a healthy cholesterol level for heart health, barely 37 percent actually get their cholesterol routinely tested. It is pretty well known that elevated LDL-cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart diseases.
"People know probiotics for digestive health. They don't associate them with heart health," said Doug DiRienzo, PhD and lead author of the review. "It's time to recognize their potential role as a simple and natural tool in cholesterol management."
The scientists conducted randomized double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multi-center trials. These trials clearly demonstrated that Cardioviva™ healthy bacteria lowered total and LDL-cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic adults.
One of these clinical trials involved 127 adults with high cholesterol. This trial demonstrated that those taking a supplement of L. reuteri NCIMB 30242 (Cardioviva™) twice a day had LDL levels 11.6 percent lower than those taking a placebo after nine weeks.
"It is exciting to think that certain probiotics, such as Cardioviva™, may have an impact on heart health through gut health," said Penny Kris-Etherton, PhD, RD, Distinguished Professor of Nutrition at the Pennsylvania State University and Fellow of the American Heart Association. "I would encourage consumers who are managing their heart health through diet and exercise to ask their health professionals about probiotics that have been proven effective in lowering cholesterol in clinical trials."
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