The Effects of a synbiotic product on the blood lipid prof,ile and red blood cell morphology among hypercholesterolemic subjects
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Date
2010
Authors
Gaik, Ooi Lay
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Abstract
Synbiotics have been ·Conventionally used to improve gastrointestinal health. Although
current researches have found new health potentials of synbiotics, little information is
available on possible cholesterol-lowering effects and the mechanisms involved. This
randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study investigated the effects of a
synbiotic product on the lipid profiles of hypercholesterolemic subjects and the possible
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mechanisms entailed. Thirty-two hypercholesterolemic subjects with initial mean plasma
cholesterol levels of 5.70 ± 0.32 mmol/L were randomly allocated to two groups and
were given four capsules of either synbiotic (Lactobacillus acidophilus CH0-220 and
inulin) or placebo daily. Fasting blood samples were collected at weeks 0, 6 and 12 for
lipid, lipoprotein, bile and red blood cells (RBC) analyses. The synbiotic group showed
plasma total- and LDL cholesterol reductions by 7.84% and 9.27%, respectively over 12
weeks (P < 0.05) while the control showed insignificant difference. Cholesteryl ester
(CE) in the HDL subfraction in the synbiotic group was higher than the control (P <
0.05), indicating increased transport of cholesterol by HDL in the form of CE to the liver
for hydrolysis. The synbiotic group also had lower CE and cholesterol concentrations in
the LDL subfraction compared to the control (P < 0.05). Although Lactobacillus
acidophilus CH0-220 could deconjugate bile, our results showed insignificant (P > 0.05)
difference in bile acids concentrations between the synbiotic and the control groups,
indicating that the synbiotic product 1s safe from bile-related toxicity. The synbiotic
product lowered plasma total- and LDL-cholesterol levels, possibly via modifying the
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interconnected pathways of lipid transporters. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
showed spur RBC was improved upon supplementation of the synbiotic. The
supplementation of synbiotic significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the
cholesterol/phospholipids ratio of the RBC membrane by 47.02% over 12 weeks, while
the control showed insignificant changes. Our present study also showed that the
synbiotic supplementation reduced saturated fatty acids (SFA) concentration, increa.Sed
unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) and increased _UFNSFA ratio (P < 0.05) over 12 weeks
while the control showed insignificant changes. The alteration of RBC membrane was
assessed using fluorescence anisotropy (FAn) and fluorescence probes with different
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affinities for varying sections of the membrane phospholipid bilayer. A significant (P <
0.05) decrease in FAn of 8-anilino-1-napthalenesulfonic acid (ANS), 1, 6-diphenyl-1, 3,
5-hexatriene (DPH) and 1-(4-trimethylammonium)-6-phenyl-1, 3, 5-hexatriene (TMADPH)
was observed in the synbiotic group compared to the control over 12 weeks,
suggesting increased membrane fluidity and reduced cholesterol enrichment in the RBC
membrane.
Description
Keywords
Synbiotic product , Cell morphology