In the field of nutrition, one has to be wary of products which claim to cure all the world’s ills! However, there are quite a few nutrients that, due to their mechanism, affect many different areas of health. One such supplement is probiotics.

Although these “good bacteria” live in the gut, they represent the first line of defence of the immune system, and easing the burden on one part can have profound effects for the rest of your immune-function. In addition, results from animal and human studies suggest a moderate cholesterol-lowering action.

Probiotic bacteria ferment indigestible carbohydrates to produce short-chain fatty acids in the gut, which can inhibit the body’s cholesterol production, and may also interfere with cholesterol absorption from the gut.

This meta-analysis assessed randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effects of probiotics consumption on bloo-fats – markers of obesity and cardiovascular health. Assessing 13 trials, including 485 participants with high, borderline high and normal cholesterol levels.

Total cholesterol for those treated with was 6.40 mg dl-1lower in those treated with probiotics compared to controls. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) cholesterol was 4.90 mg dl-1lower and the mean reduction in blood-fats was 3.95 mg dl-1.

So… probiotics aren’t too good to be true, they’re just too good!

"Influence of consumption of probiotics on the plasma lipid profile: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials," Guo Z, Chen W, et al, Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis, 2011 Sep 17 [Epub ahead of print].