Skip to main content
PMC home page
Applied and Environmental Microbiology logoLink to Applied and Environmental Microbiology
. 1985 Feb;49(2):377–381. doi: 10.1128/aem.49.2.377-381.1985

Assimilation of cholesterol by Lactobacillus acidophilus.

S E Gilliland, C R Nelson, C Maxwell
PMCID: PMC238411  PMID: 3920964

Abstract

Considerable variation was found among strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus isolated from the fecal flora of pigs with regard to the ability to grow well in the presence of bile and to assimilate cholesterol from a laboratory growth medium. The uptake of cholesterol occurred only when the culture(s) was growing in the presence of bile under anaerobic conditions. Consumption of L. acidophilus RP32, which was selected for its ability to grow well in the presence of bile and to assimilate cholesterol from the laboratory medium, significantly inhibited increases in serum cholesterol levels of pigs (P less than 0.05) fed a high-cholesterol diet. Consumption of L. acidophilus P47, which was selected for its ability to grow in the presence of bile and lack of ability to remove cholesterol from the growth medium, failed to have a similar effect. This indicates that certain strains of L. acidophilus act directly on cholesterol in the gastrointestinal tract, and thus may be beneficial in reducing serum cholesterol levels.

Full text

PDF
377

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Cevallos W. H., Holmes W. L., Myers R. N., Smink R. D. Swine in atherosclerosis research--Development of an experimental animal model and study of the effect of dietary fats on cholesterol metabolism. Atherosclerosis. 1979 Nov;34(3):303–317. doi: 10.1016/s0021-9150(79)80008-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Gilliland S. E., Speck M. L. Deconjugation of bile acids by intestinal lactobacilli. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1977 Jan;33(1):15–18. doi: 10.1128/aem.33.1.15-18.1977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Gilliland S. E., Speck M. L., Morgan C. G. Detection of Lactobacillus acidophilus in feces of humans, pigs, and chickens. Appl Microbiol. 1975 Oct;30(4):541–545. doi: 10.1128/am.30.4.541-545.1975. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Harrison V. C., Peat G. Serum cholesterol and bowel flora in the newborn. Am J Clin Nutr. 1975 Dec;28(12):1351–1355. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/28.12.1351. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Hepner G., Fried R., St Jeor S., Fusetti L., Morin R. Hypocholesterolemic effect of yogurt and milk. Am J Clin Nutr. 1979 Jan;32(1):19–24. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/32.1.19. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Mann G. V. A factor in yogurt which lowers cholesteremia in man. Atherosclerosis. 1977 Mar;26(3):335–340. doi: 10.1016/0021-9150(77)90086-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Mann G. V. Studies of a surfactant and cholesteremia in the Maasai. Am J Clin Nutr. 1974 May;27(5):464–469. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/27.5.464. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Morishita Y., Mitsuoka T., Kaneuchi C., Yamamoto S., Ogata M. Specific establishment of lactobacilli in the digestive tract of germ-free chickens. Jpn J Microbiol. 1971 Nov;15(6):531–538. doi: 10.1111/j.1348-0421.1971.tb00615.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Mott G. E., Moore R. W., Redmond H. E., Reiser R. Lowering of serum cholesterol by intestinal bacteria in cholesterol-fed piglets. Lipids. 1973 Jul;8(7):428–431. doi: 10.1007/BF02531720. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Ratcliffe H. L., Luginbühl H. The domestic pig: a model for experimental atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis. 1971 Jan-Feb;13(1):133–136. doi: 10.1016/0021-9150(71)90014-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Rudel L. L., Morris M. D. Determination of cholesterol using o-phthalaldehyde. J Lipid Res. 1973 May;14(3):364–366. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. SJOVALL J. On the concentration of bile acids in the human intestine during absorption. Bile acids and sterioids 74. Acta Physiol Scand. 1959 Aug 31;46:339–345. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-1716.1959.tb01763.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Thakur C. P., Jha A. N. Influence of milk, yoghurt and calcium on cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis in rabbits. Atherosclerosis. 1981 May;39(2):211–215. doi: 10.1016/0021-9150(81)90071-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Thompson L. U., Jenkins D. J., Amer M. A., Reichert R., Jenkins A., Kamulsky J. The effect of fermented and unfermented milks on serum cholesterol. Am J Clin Nutr. 1982 Dec;36(6):1106–1111. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/36.6.1106. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Tortuero F., Brenes A., Riopérez J. The influence of intestinal (ceca) flora on serum and egg yolk cholesterol levels in laying hens. Poult Sci. 1975 Nov;54(6):1935–1938. doi: 10.3382/ps.0541935. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Applied and Environmental Microbiology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES