Probiotic capsules do not lower plasma lipids in young women and men.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of probiotic capsules on plasma lipids.

DESIGN

A randomized, single-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm trial.

SUBJECTS

Fifty-five normocholesterolemic subjects ages 18-36 (33 premenopausal women and 22 men).

INTERVENTION

Each subject consumed either three probiotic capsules each containing a total of 10(9) colony-forming units Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum and 10-15 mg fructo-oligosaccharide or three placebo capsules daily for 2 months (men) or two menstrual cycles (women). Plasma lipids were measured before and following the intervention (during the early follicular phase for women).

RESULTS

Plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride were not altered by consumption of probiotic or placebo capsules and were not different between treatment groups following the intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

These results do not support a beneficial effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus strain DDS-1 and Bifidobacterium longum strain UABL-14 on plasma lipids in normocholesterolemic young women and men.

SPONSORSHIP

Supported by the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station and UAS Laboratories.