Cholesterol Lowering Activity of Ropy Fermented Milk

Abstract

ABSTRACT The effect of ropy fermented milk on serum cholesterol in rats was studied. Basic diets containing slime‐forming Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris SBT 0495, its non slime‐forming variant SBT 1275, and acidified reconstituted skim milk, with 0.5% cholesterol added, were fed to F‐344 rats for 7 days. Serum cholesterol level of rats fed the ropy fermented milk were the lowest among the three treatments. The serum high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio of rats fed ropy fermented milk was the highest. Slime materials produced by L. lactis subsp. cremoris SBT 0495 had a beneficial effect on rat cholesterol metabolism.