A combination of calcium phosphate and probiotics beneficially influences intestinal lactobacilli and cholesterol metabolism in humans

• Published in: Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) Scotland), 2012-04, Vol.31 (2), p.230-237
• Main Authors: Trautvetter, Ulrike, Ditscheid, Bianka, Kiehntopf, Michael, Jahreis, Gerhard
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; beverages; Bile acids; Biological and medical sciences; Blood lipids; breads; calcium; Calcium phosphate; calcium phosphates; Calcium Phosphates - administration & dosage; Calcium, Dietary - administration & dosage; cholesteremic effect; cholesterol; Cholesterol - blood; cholesterol metabolism; clinical trials; Cross-Over Studies; Dietary Supplements; digestive system; Double-Blind Method; Energy Intake; feces; Feces - microbiology; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; high density lipoprotein; Humans; Intestines - drug effects; Intestines - microbiology; Lactobacillus - drug effects; Lactobacillus - growth & development; Lactobacillus paracasei; Lipid Metabolism - drug effects; low density lipoprotein; Male; men; Neutral sterols; placebos; probiotics; Probiotics - administration & dosage; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; women; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0261-5614; 1532-1983
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2011.09.013

Summary Background & aims The study focuses on the influence of a probiotic supplement alone and in combination with a calcium supplement on faecal lactobacilli colonisation and beneficial health effects such as a lowering of blood cholesterol. Methods Thirty-two men and women participated in the double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. All participants consumed a probiotic drink containing 1010 CFU/d Lactobacillus paracasei (LPC37) for four weeks. In addition, one group consumed bread enriched with pentacalcium hydroxy-triphosphate (CaP; 1 g Ca/d) and the other group had bread without CaP. After a two-week washout and a two-week placebo period, the intervention was switched for further four weeks. Results After intervention with LPC37 + CaP, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentration in plasma decreased significantly compared to LPC37 and placebo. The faecal concentration of L. paracasei and that of all lactobacilli increased significantly after LPC37 + CaP and LPC37 compared to placebo. Moreover, secondary bile acids in faeces increased significantly after LPC37 + CaP intervention compared to placebo. Conclusions CaP modulates the colonisation of LPC37 in the human gut under combinatory supplementation of CaP and LPC37. The combined supplementation also decreases plasma LDL-cholesterol and the LDL/HDL ratio in healthy, moderately hypercholesterolemic men and women, which could be also due to the CaP supplementation. Clinical trial registration number NCT01033461