[Effect of dietary Lactobacillus casei on cholesterol metabolism in apoE-deficient mice].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of dietary Lactobacillus casei on cholesterol metabolism in apoE-deficient mice in order to find the possible active components of Lactobacillus casei in anti-atherogenesis. METHODS: ApoE-deficient mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group (A), Lactobacillus casei 10(8) cfu/ml group (B), Lactobacillus casei 10(10) cfu/ml group (C), Lactobacillus casei 10(12) cfu/ml group (D). ApoE-deficient mice were administrated with dietary contenting Lactobacillus casei for 16 weeks and the cholesterol levels of serum, liver, aorta in different groups were determined by enzymatic method. RESULTS: When compared with control group, total cholesterol accumulation in aortas and livers showed a significant reduction in dietary mice fed with contenting Lactobacillus casei (P < 0.05). At the same time, it had higher HDL-C level compared to control group. CONCLUSION: This result suggested that Lactobacillus casei could have the capacity of improvement.