Abstract
Aims
Human clinical studies have yielded mixed results on the effects of consumption of
probiotics on the plasma lipid profile. We conducted a meta-analysis of randomised
controlled trials that evaluated the effects of probiotics consumption on blood lipids.
Data Synthesis
A systematic literature search of Embase, Web of Science, PubMed and Cochrane Controlled
Trials Registry was conducted for studies that investigated the efficacy of probiotics
on the plasma lipid profile of subjects. With the help of Review Manager 4.2, data
from 13 trials, which included 485 participants with high, borderline high and normal
cholesterol levels, were examined. The pooled mean net change in total cholesterol
for those treated with probiotics compared to controls was −6.40 mg dl−1 (95% confidence interval (CI), −9.93 to −2.87), mean net change in low-density lipoprotein
(LDL) cholesterol was −4.90 mg dl−1 (95% CI, −7.91 to −1.90), mean net change in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol
was −0.11 mg dl−1 (95% CI, −1.90–1.69) and mean net change in triglycerides was −3.95 mg dl−1 (95% CI, −10.32–2.42).
Conclusion
These results indicate that a diet rich in probiotics decreases total cholesterol
and LDL cholesterol concentration in plasma for participants with high, borderline
high and normal cholesterol levels.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 19, 2011
Accepted:
April 7,
2011
Received in revised form:
April 6,
2011
Received:
December 3,
2010
Identification
Copyright
© 2011 Elsevier B.V. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
