Assimilation of cholesterol by Lactobacillus acidophilus

TLDR

Variation exists among Lactobacillus acidophilus strains isolated from pig feces in their ability to grow in bile and assimilate cholesterol. Cholesterol uptake occurs only when the bacteria grow anaerobically in the presence of bile. Consumption of the bile‑tolerant, cholesterol‑assimilating strain RP32 significantly lowered serum cholesterol in pigs on a high‑cholesterol diet, whereas the bile‑tolerant but cholesterol‑non‑assimilating strain P47 had no effect, indicating that specific L.

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.