Lower plasma triglyceride level in Syrian hamsters fed on skim milk fermented with Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota

The effect of fermented skim milk (FSM) by Lactobacillus casei strain Shiro ta on plasma lipids in hamsters was examined. Hamsters fed on cholesterol-f ree and -enriched diets containing 30% FSM had lower levers of plasma trigl yceride than those fed on the control diet. In the experiment,vith the chol esterol-enriched diet-fed hamsters, the plasma triglyceride level was suppr essed by FSM at concentrations of 10% to 30%. Unfermented milk tended to lo wer the level of triglyceride, but not significantly, The plasma cholestero l concentration was not affected by an FSM and unfermented skim milk supple ment to the diet, L. casei strain Shirota grew well in the presence of mixe d lipid micelles containing bile acid, hot did not have the ability to remo ve cholesterol from the culture broth. These results indicate that FSM lowe red the plasma triglyceride level in hamsters.