EFFECTS OF A MILK PRODUCT, FERMENTED BY LACTOBACILLUS-ACIDOPHILUS ANDWITH FRUCTO-OLIGOSACCHARIDES ADDED, ON BLOOD-LIPIDS IN MALE-VOLUNTEERS

Objective: To investigate in adult male volunteers the effect of a new fermented milk product, fermented by Lactobacillus acidophilus and wi th fructo-oligosaccharides added, on blood lipids. Design: Randomized placebo-controlled double-blind two-way cross over trial with two trea tment periods of three weeks, separated by a wash-out period of one we ek. Setting: the study was performed at the TNO Nutrition and Food Res earch Institute in Zeist, The Netherlands. Subjects: Thirty normal hea lthy men, aged 33-64 y (mean serum total cholesterol level: 5.23 +/- 1 .03 (s.d.)), were selected for this study. Normal health was assessed by pre study screening. All subjects were used to an average Dutch foo d pattern. Interventions: During the treatment periods subjects consum ed three times daily a 125 ml of either test or reference product as a part of their habitual diet. The test product was a milk, fermented b y yogurt starters and Lactobacillus acidophilus, and contained 2.5% fr ucto-oligosaccharides, 0.5% vegetable oil and 0.5% milk fat. The refer ence product was a traditional yogurt (milk fermented only by yogurt s trains), containing 1% milk fat. Blood samples for serum lipid analysi s and blood glucose measurements were taken before the start of the ex periment and at the end of both treatment periods. Results: As compare d to the reference product, consumption of the test product resulted i n significantly lower values for serum total cholesterol (P < 0.001), LDL-cholesterol (P < 0.005), and the LDL/HDL-ratio (P < 0.05) by 4.4, 5.4 and 5.3% respectively. Levels of serum HDL-cholesterol, triglyceri des and blood glucose remained essentially unchanged. The beneficial e ffects of the test product on serum cholesterol were largely;elated to an increase of this parameter during the consumption of the reference product. Conclusions: As compared to traditional yogurt, daily consum ption of three times 125 ml of test product specifically lowered serum LDL-cholesterol levels in normal healthy male adult subjects with bor derline elevated levels of serum total cholesterol within three weeks.