Dose-Dependent Effects of Multispecies Probiotic Supplementation on the Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) Level and Cardiometabolic Profile in Obese Postmenopausal Women: A 12-Week Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

During the postmenopausal period, the risk of cardiovascular diseases is increased in many obese women and is associated with a worse cardiometabolic profile and a sub-chronic low-grade systemic inflammation caused by a gut barrier permeability dysfunction. Here, we tested whether administration of two different dosages of the multispecies probiotic Ecologic® Barrier influenced the cardiometabolic biochemical parameters and lipopolysaccharide levels, the latter used as a marker of increased gut permeability in obese postmenopausal women. A total of 81 obese Caucasian postmenopausal women participated in the trial. The subjects were randomly assigned to three groups that received a placebo, a low dose (LD) (2.5 × 109 colony forming units (CFU) per day), or a high dose (HD) (1 × 1010 CFU per day) of lyophilisate powder containing live multispecies probiotic bacteria. The probiotic supplement was administered each day in two equal portions for 12 weeks. We found significant (p < 0.05) favorable changes (mostly large or medium effects) in the evaluated parameters in both the HD and LD groups but not in the placebo group. In the HD group, lipopolysaccharide, waist, fat mass, subcutaneous fat, uric acid, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glucose, insulin, and insulin-resistant index (HOMA-IR) were improved. Similar changes were observed in the LD group, except for lipopolysaccharide, uric acid, triglycerides, and glucose levels. Additionally, significant differences were observed in both groups in terms of fat percentage and visceral fat. When the mean changes were compared between the three groups, statistically significant differences in lipopolysaccharide levels, uric acid, glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR were found. Post hoc tests revealed significant differences in the mean changes (mostly medium effects) between the HD and LD groups for uric acid, glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR. In the 12-week randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind intervention, we observed that supplementation with the multispecies probiotic Ecologic® Barrier favorably affected the risk factors in a dose-dependent manner, showing beneficial effects on the cardiometabolic parameters and gut permeability of the patients. Our results suggest that this product can be effective in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases in obese postmenopausal women.

A Mini-Review of Human Studies on Cholesterol-Lowering Properties of Probiotics

“…The supplementation of Ecologic ® Barrier (2.5 × 10 9 or 1 × 10 10 CFU/day) for 12 weeks improved the TG and LDL-C content and other metabolic and cardiovascular disease parameters in obese postmenopausal women [39].…”

“…Based on the randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind studies [24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41] reviewed in the present article, the hypocholesterolemic effect of the probiotics was not significantly influenced by the diet. Studies reported based on the intervention of single-strain probiotic (E. faecium M-74 along with selenium [27]; Saccharomyces cerevisiae var.…”

“…Studies based on the intervention of multi-genus, multi-species, multi-strain (strains of same species) probiotic preparation has been reported with positive effect on lipid profile [24][25][26]28,[31][32][33][34][36][37][38][39]47,48], while several studies reported no effect of multi-genus and multi-species probiotic intervention on the lipid profile [55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63]. Even though intervention of Ecologic ® Barrier (B. bifidum W23, B. lactis W51, B. lactis W52, L. acidophilus W37, L. brevis W63, L. casei W56, L. salivarius W24, Lactococcus lactis W19 and W58) exhibit hypocholesterolemic effect on different subjects (individuals with T2D [38]; obese postmenopausal women [39]) with different intervention duration (six months [38]; 12 weeks [39]), dosage of probiotic mixture does not influence the cholesterol-lowering ability of the probiotic mixture.…”

You Are What You Eat—The Relationship between Diet, Microbiota, and Metabolic Disorders—A Review

“…Cani et al [170] in an animal model study noted that in response to an HFD, the plasma LPS level increased. The higher LPS concentration is associated with the development of obesity and insulin resistance [171]. On the other hand, an increased LPS level and obesity have been observed in mice fed a control diet after LPS infusion.…”

Influence of natural dairy probiotics on health

“…In the study by Hertzler and Clancy the concomitant use for one day of L. lactis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Streptococcus cremoris, Lactobacillus casei, Streptococcus diacetylactis, Saccharomyces florentinus and Lactococcus cremoris improved the tolerance and digestibility of lactose in people with impaired lactose digestion [10]. Probiotic have shown beneficial properties in obese patients [17]. Obese postmenopausal women supplementing a probiotic preparation for 12 weeks had improved parameters, such as waist circumference, body fat mass, amount of subcutaneous fat, as well as the lipid profile and carbohydrate metabolism [17].…”