Effects of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12® on the lipid/lipoprotein profile and short chain fatty acids in healthy young adults: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

BackgroundSome probiotics have hypocholesterolemic effects in animal studies, which are mediated, in part, by increases in fecal short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Clinical trials of probiotics on lipids/lipoproteins are inconsistent.ObjectiveWe examined the effects of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12® (BB-12®) (3.16 × 109 CFUs/day) on lipids and lipoproteins and fecal excretion of SCFAs in healthy adults.MethodsIn a randomized, partially blinded, 4-period, crossover study, 30 adults (11 men, 19 women) aged 18–40 years were randomly assigned to: 1) yogurt smoothie with no BB-12® (YS), 2) yogurt smoothie with BB-12® added pre-fermentation (PRE), 3) yogurt smoothie with BB-12® added post-fermentation (POST), 4) BB-12® containing capsule (CAP). We measured serum lipids/lipoproteins, glucose, insulin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and fecal SCFAs at baseline and after each treatment period.ResultsTotal cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides (TGs) did not differ after the PRE, POST, and CAP periods versus the YS or between treatments. Compared to baseline, fecal acetate was significantly increased after the YS (Δ = 211.89 ± 75.87 μg/g, P = 0.007) and PRE (Δ = 204.98 ± 75.70 μg/g, P = 0.009) periods. The percent increase in fecal acetate was significantly greater after the YS versus the POST period (52.2 ± 13.2% vs. 24.5 ± 13.2%, P = 0.023). Fecal total SCFAs, propionate and butyrate did not differ between treatment periods. Fecal total SCFAs were negatively associated with TC (r = -0.22, P = 0.01), LDL-C (r = -0.24, P = 0.004), age (r = -0.33, P < 0.001), and waist circumference (r = -0.25, P = 0.003).ConclusionsBB-12® supplementation did not improve lipids, lipoproteins and total and individual fecal SCFAs. Fecal SCFAs were negatively associated with TC, LDL-C, age, and waist circumference.Trial registrationThis trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01399996.

The use of probiotics for improving lipid profiles in dyslipidemic individuals: an overview protocol

“…Several studies, mainly clinical trials, have demonstrated the ability of some bacterial strains to reduce total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), and triglycerides [ 10 – 15 ]. On the other hand, no changes were observed in the lipid profile after the use of probiotics in other studies [ 16 – 18 ]. In a preliminary literature search, we found systematic reviews (SRs) that generated contradictory results of probiotic use in dyslipidemic individuals [ 19 – 22 ].…”

Impact of bacterial probiotics on obesity, diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease related variables: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

“…We identified 1934 records, from which we selected 986 individual abstracts and 161 potentially relevant articles for full review (figure 1). We identified 105 articles19 25–128 reporting data from 99 different research studies including 111 different randomised comparisons of probiotics versus control (further called randomised clinical trials [RCTs], see online supplementary table 1-2) with the following outcomes: BW (number of RCTs: k=58, n=3422 individuals, median=77.4 kg), BMI (k=68, n=4015, 28.2 kg/m²), WC (k=26, n=1583, 98.8 cm); BFM (k=27, n=1562, 27.8 kg), SAT and VAT (k=5, n=543, 192.4 cm² and 114.7 cm², respectively), FG (k=83, n=5188, 6.1 mmol), HbA 1c (k=28, n=1796, 6.3%), INS (k=63, n=3854, 11.0 mU/L), HOMA-IR (k=52, n=3513, 3.2), CRP (k=41, n=2376, 3.6 mg/L), TG (k=74, n=4461, 145.4 mg/dL), ALAT (k=26, n=1466, 38.6 IU/L), ASAT (k=23, n=1340, 36.1 IU/L) and GGT (k=14, n=816, 41.5 IU/L). The median duration of the follow-up was 8 weeks (range: 2–28 weeks), probiotics dose ranged from 10 7 to 10 12 CFU daily, and 43 trials were conducted in one country (Iran).…”

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

“…boulardii CNCM I-1079 [29]; L. rhamnosus GG [30]; Soy milk containing L. plantarum A7 [35]) preparation showed significant hypocholesterolemic effect when compared to the study reported with the intervention of single-strain probiotics (B. breve B-3 [40]; Lactobacillus gasseri BNR17 [41]) preparation; whereas intervention of single-strain probiotics (L. acidophilus [53]; B. animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 [54]) preparation exhibited no beneficial effect on the lipid profile of the studied subjects. Therefore, the level of improving lipid profile is strain-specific and might depend on the dosage and duration of the intervention.…”

“…The consumption of L. acidophilus (9 × 10 10 CFU/ day for six weeks), B. animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 ® (3.16 × 10 9 CFU/day for four weeks), probiotic yogurt containing both L. acidophilus and BB-12 ® (3.0 × 10 9 CFU/day for seven days), and L. acidophilus and B. longum (each 10 10 CFU/ day for two months) did not amend the lipid profile in healthy human subjects [53][54][55][56].…”