Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains KABP011, KABP012 and KABP013 modulate bile acids and cholesterol metabolism in humans.

AIMS: Probiotics with high bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity have shown to promote cardiovascular health. However, their mechanism(s) of action remain poorly understood. Here, we performed a pilot exploratory study to investigate effects of a 4-week intervention with escalating doses of a BSH-active formula containing Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains KABP011, KABP012 and KABP013 on bile acid (BA), lipid profile and lipoprotein function.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Healthy overweight individuals were included in this study. The probiotic intake was associated to a progressive decrease of conjugated BAs in serum, due to the reduction of tauro- and glyco-conjugated forms. Plasma levels of Fibroblast Growth Factor-19 (FGF-19) were significantly reduced, and correlated with BA changes. The probiotic induced significant changes in serum lipids, with reduction in non-HDL-cholesterol (non-HDLc) and LDL-cholesterol (LDLc) levels. The largest decrease was evidenced in the subgroup with higher baseline LDL levels (LDLc > 130 mg/dL). Fasting levels of circulating apolipoprotein(Apo) B100 and ApoB48 were significantly reduced. Importantly, the decrease in non-HDLc levels was associated with a significant reduction in small-LDL particles. Functional testing indicated that LDL particles had a significantly lower susceptibility to oxidation whilst HDL particles gained antioxidant capacity after the probiotic intake. The microbiota profile in faeces collected at the end of the study was enriched with members of class Desulfovibrio, a taurine-consuming bacteria, likely because of the increase in free taurine in the gut due to the BSH activity of the probiotic.

CONCLUSIONS: The intervention with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains induces beneficial effects on BA signature and lipoprotein profile. It reduces ApoB and small-LDL levels and LDL susceptibility to oxidation, and increases HDL antioxidant capacity. These metabolic profile changes suggest increased protection against atherosclerotic disease.