Effects Of Probiotics On Cholesterol Metabolism: Biochemical Mechanisms And Clinical Potential

Abstract

In recent years, the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases has accelerated the search for natural and effective strategies to regulate cholesterol metabolism. In this context, the hypocholesterolemic potential of probiotic microorganisms has attracted growing scientific attention. Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when consumed in adequate amounts, provide health benefits to the host. They are primarily composed of species from the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium genera. Numerous studies have shown that probiotic strains can influence cholesterol metabolism through various biochemical mechanisms. These include bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity for bile salt deconjugation, cholesterol assimilation and degradation, precipitation with secondary bile acids, binding to the microbial cell wall or membrane, and the effects of short-chain fatty acids produced during prebiotic fermentation. Several studies have reported that specific strains—particularly Lacticaseibacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum—can effectively exert these effects. However, as most mechanisms have been investigated under in vitro conditions, their actual efficacy under physiological (in vivo) settings may be limited. This review examines the impact of probiotics on cholesterol metabolism in detail and analyzes the relevant mechanisms based on findings in the literature. The current evidence suggests that probiotics can exert cholesterol-lowering effects in a strain-specific manner. Nevertheless, further controlled and long-term clinical studies are needed to confirm these effects and support their potential role in therapeutic administrations.

Keywords

• Probiotics
• Cholesterol metabolism
• Bile salt hydrolase (BSH)
• Hypocholesterolemia

PROBİYOTİKLERİN KOLESTEROL METABOLİZMASINA ETKİLERİ: BİYOKİMYASAL MEKANİZMALAR VE KLİNİK POTANSİYEL

Abstract

Son yıllarda kardiyovasküler hastalıkların görülme sıklığında yaşanan artış, kolesterol metabolizmasının düzenlenmesine yönelik doğal ve etkili çözümler arayışını hızlandırmıştır. Bu doğrultuda, probiyotik mikroorganizmaların hipokolesterolemik potansiyeli, bilimsel çevrelerde yoğun ilgi görmektedir. Probiyotikler, yeterli miktarda alındığında konakçının sağlığı üzerinde olumlu etkiler oluşturan canlı mikroorganizmalardır ve çoğunlukla Lactobacillus ve Bifidobacterium cinslerine ait türleri içermektedir. Literatürde yer alan çok sayıda in vitro ve in vivo çalışmada, probiyotik suşların kolesterol metabolizması üzerinde çeşitli biyokimyasal mekanizmalar aracılığıyla etkili olabildiği gösterilmiştir. Bu mekanizmalar arasında; safra tuzlarının dekonjugasyonunu sağlayan safra tuzu hidrolaz (BSH) aktivitesi, kolesterolün asimilasyonu ve katabolizasyonu, sekonder safra asitleri ile çökeltilmesi, hücre duvarına veya hücre zarına bağlanması, prebiyotik fermentasyonu sonucu oluşan kısa zincirli yağ asitlerinin etkisi gibi süreçler yer almaktadır. Bazı probiyotik suşların, özellikle Lacticaseibacillus casei ATCC 393, Lactobacillus acidophilus ve Lactiplantibacillus plantarum türlerinin bu etkileri güçlü şekilde ortaya koyabildiği çeşitli çalışmalarda rapor edilmiştir. Bununla birlikte, söz konusu mekanizmaların çoğunun in vitro düzeyde test edilmiş olması, in vivo fizyolojik koşullarda etkinliklerinin sınırlı kalabileceğini düşündürmektedir. Bu derlemede, probiyotiklerin kolesterol metabolizmasına olan etkileri detaylı bir şekilde incelenmiş, ilgili mekanizmalar literatür bulguları doğrultusunda analiz edilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular, probiyotiklerin suşlara özgü değişkenlik gösterebilecek şekilde kolesterol düşürücü etki gösterebildiğini ortaya koymakta; ancak bu etkilerin klinik olarak doğrulanabilmesi için daha fazla kontrollü ve uzun süreli çalışmalara ihtiyaç olduğunu göstermektedir.

Keywords

• Probiyotikler
• Kolesterol metabolizması
• Safra tuzu hidrolaz (BSH)
• Hipokolesterolemi

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