Abstract
Cholesterol is known to be a major risk factor for coronary heart
disease (CHD). Current treatments for elevated blood cholesterol
include dietary management, regular exercise, and drug therapy
with fibrates, bile acid sequestrants, and statins. Such
therapies, however, are often suboptimal and carry a risk for
serious side effects. This study shows that microencapsulated
Lactobacillus plantarum 80 (pCBH1) cells can efficiently
break down and remove bile acids, and establishes a basis for
their use in lowering blood serum cholesterol. Results show that
microencapsulated LP80 (pCBH1) is able to effectively break down
the conjugated bile acids glycodeoxycholic acid (GDCA) and
taurodeoxycholic acid (TDCA) with bile salt hydrolase (BSH)
activities of 0.19 and 0.08