ProBiotix Health, a subsidiary of OptiBiotix Health, has highlighted recent research showing statistically significant reductions in ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol levels following supplementation with the company’s Lactobacillus plantarum probiotic, LPLDL.
Recently published in the Journal of Functional Foods, the University of Roehampton study was covered by NHS clinician, Dr Ranj Singh. Singh said: “This is a really promising finding, because it’s another potential tool that we can use in the fight against cholesterol. While statins are a known option, unfortunately not everyone can take them. With LPLDL, not only has it been shown to reduce your cholesterol levels, which is fantastic, it also did not have any significant side effects.”
The placebo-controlled, double blind study was part of a six-week human intervention aimed at investigating the effect of the probiotic in male and female adults between 30 and 65 with high cholesterol.
Volunteers were randomly assigned to either consume 4x109 CFU per day of LPLDL or a placebo, both in identical DR capsules. Each group was assessed at weeks three and six. Subjects in the supplementation group showed statistically significant results versus the placebo by the third week, ProBiotic says.
Dr Sofia Kolida, Research & Development Director at OptiBiotix, said: “According to the British Heart Foundation, one in four heart and circulatory disease deaths in the UK is associated with high LDL cholesterol, therefore it is imperative we look at other ways to tackle the issue.
“The results of the study highlighted that after taking LPLDL daily for six weeks, our patented probiotic strain can reduce total cholesterol by 34.6%, LDL cholesterol by 28.4%, non-HDL cholesterol by 17.6% and apolipoprotein B by 28.6%. As such, our findings demonstrate that LPLDL can be an effective means to support cardiovascular health, significantly improving multiple coronary heart disease risk biomarkers”.
The strain was discovered from a collection of more than 4,000 microbial candidates by ProBiotix and was extensively screened using the company’s OptiScreen technology platform, it says.