Probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum may reduce cardiovascular risk: An experimental study

BACKGROUND: Reduction of cardiovascular risk (CVR) is based on the correction of risk factors, especially dyslipidemia. Due to the limiting factors of conventional lipid-lowering medications, the investigation of alternative approaches is necessary.METHODS: The present open, comparative, randomized, and parallel investigation was conducted on ۷۷ patients. Participants were of both sexes, ۴۰-۷۴ years-of-age, and had dyslipidemia. The participants were divided into ۲ groups; the treatment group (n = ۴۱) received a combination of Lactobacillus plantarum and simvastatin ۲۰ mg once a day, and the control group (n = ۳۶) received simvastatin ۲۰ mg once a day. The trial included ۵ visits; screening on the first ۲, and treatment on the next ۳ (on weeks ۴, ۸, and ۱۲). On visits ۱, ۳, ۴, and ۵, the lipid profile was evaluated and CVR was calculated using ۵ tools.RESULTS: The combination treatment led to a more pronounced decrease in total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) after ۸ weeks (P = ۰.۰۰۲ and ۰.۰۱۶, respectively), that persisted after ۱۲ weeks (P < ۰.۰۰۱ and ۰.۰۰۲, respectively). Reduction in TC and LDL by ³ ۲۰% was observed more predominantly in the treatment group. A significant reduction was observed in CVR in the treatment group according to the Prospective Cardiovascular Münster (‎PROCAM) score (P = ۰.۰۰۴). Reduction of CVR by ³ ۲۰% was mostly observed as a result of prescribing combination therapy according to the Framingham Risk Score ‎(۷۰.۷%; P = ۰.۰۰۳), ۲۰۱۳ ACC/AHA ASCVD Risk Calculator ‎(۵۱.۲%; P = ۰.۰۳۵), PROCAM (۶۵.۹%; P < ۰.۰۰۱), and WHO CVD risk chart (۵۶.۱%; P = ۰.۰۱۲).CONCLUSION: Additional supplementation with Lactobacillus plantarum was more effective in the reduction of TC, LDL, and CVR according to PROCAM and the attainment of treatment goals regarding lipid profile and CVR levels.

Keywords:

Dyslipidemias , Heart Disease Risk Factors , Lactobacillus Plantarum