Basic nutritional investigationProbiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Aloe vera gel improve lipid profiles in hypercholesterolemic rats
Introduction
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of death in adults in the Western world. Increased levels of certain blood lipids have been reported to be the principal cause of CVD and coronary heart disease [1]. Current dietary strategies for the prevention of CVD advocate an adherence to low-fat/low-saturated fat diets [2]. Although a low-fat diet may be an effective strategy to lower blood cholesterol concentrations in populations, the strategy appears to be less effective in individuals, largely due to poor compliance, attributed to low palatability and acceptability as a routine diet [3]. Consequently, attempts are being made to develop alternative dietary ingredients that can manage blood cholesterol levels. Supplementation of the diet with fermented dairy products or foods containing bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria have been reported to lower serum cholesterol levels [4], [5], [6], [7].
Probiotics confer miscellaneous health benefits including an improvement in lactose intolerance, an increase in natural resistance to infectious disease in the gastrointestinal tract, the suppression of cancer, as an antidiabetic agent, and a decrease in serum cholesterol levels [5], [6], [8], [9], [10]. There have been reputable studies on the ability of probiotics to lower cholesterol levels in the body [11], [12], [13]. The possible mechanisms involved in the hypocholesteremic effect include an assimilation of cholesterol by growing cells, the binding of cholesterol to the microbial cellular surface, the deconjugation of bile by bile salt hydrolase (Bsh), the coprecipitation of cholesterol with deconjugate bile, the binding action of bile by fiber, and the microbial production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the colon [7], [14], [15].
Aloe vera(AV) is a short-stemmed, succulentxerophyte that grows to 60 to 100 cm (24–39 inches) tall and spreads by offset shoots [16]. The phytometabolites in the plant have been found to be effective in the treatment of wounds, improving blood glucose levels in diabetics [17], lowering blood lipidsin hyperlipidemic patients [18], acute hepatic diseases [19], and decreasing symptoms and inflammation in patients with ulcerative colitis [20]. In addition, the AV extracts have antibacterial and antifungal activities that may help in the treatment of minor skin infections, such as boilsand benign skin cysts, and antifungal effects [21]. When used internally, AV gel improves the quality of the blood and helps rebalance the blood chemistry in a way that lowers cholesterol and total triacylglycerol (TAG) levels (in people with increased levels) [18], [22], [23]. The present study was undertaken to explore the combined therapeutic potential of probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) and AV gel, with a particular focus on the cholesterol-lowering potential for lowering the risks of CVD.
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Experimental animals
Thirty-five male Wistar rats (each 110 d old) were allocated to one of five groups (n = 7/group). The animals were maintained in a central, small animal house at a controlled temperature of 22°C to 25°C and relative humidity of 56% to 60% and were fed a standard diet (AIN-76) and offered water ad libitum. Prior approval for study protocol was obtained from the animal ethics committee of the institute registered under the National Committee for the Purpose of the Control and Supervision of
Results
The effects of the dietary treatments on the serum lipid profile (plasma total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol, TAG, and AI) are presented in Table 3. Groups HD + LGG, HD + AV, and HD + LGG + AV showed 32%, 27%, and 43% decreases in serum total cholesterol, respectively, compared with the HD group after 45 d of dietary treatment. These three groups also exhibited a decrease in LDL cholesterol at a significant level. The decreases in LDL cholesterol were 50%, 36%,
Discussion
It is well known that increased cholesterol levels constitute the predisposing factor associated with an increased risk of CVD. Hence, lowering serum/plasma cholesterol (total and LDL) in hypercholesterolemic patients lowers the incidence of CVD. A probiotic dietary intervention could be a promising and cost–effective approach in lowering serum/plasma cholesterol levels and, hence, may play a crucial role in the management of CVD. Probiotic lactobacilli are considered normal components of the
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