Effect of 8 week intake of probiotic milk products on risk factors for cardiovascular diseases

Objective: To investigate the effect of a probiotic milk product containing the culture CAUSIDO(R) and of two alternative products on risk factors for cardiovascular disease in overweight and obese subjects. Design: An 8 week randomized, double-blind, placebo- and compliance-control led, parallel study. Subjects: Seventy healthy, weight-stable, overweight and obese (25.0 < BMI < 37.5 kg/m(2)) males (n = 20) and females (n = 50), 18-55y old, were rando mly assigned into five groups. Intervention: Four groups consumed 450 ml fermented milk products (yoghurt) daily. Group 1: a yoghurt fermented with two strains of Streptococcus ther mophilus and two strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus (StLa). Group 2: a pl acebo yoghurt fermented with delta-acid-lactone (PY). Group 3: a yoghurt fe rmented with two strains of Streptococcus thermophilus and one strain of La ctobacillus rhamnosus (StLr). Group 4: a yoghurt fermented with one strain of Enterococcus faecium and two strains of Streptococcus thermophilus (CAUS IDO(R) culture), GAIO(R) (G). The dietary composition of the yoghurt was ot herwise similar. The fifth group was given two placebo pills (PP) daily. Results: When comparing all five treatment groups, unadjusted for changes i n body weight, no statistical effects were observed in week 8 in the G-grou p on low density lipoproteins (LDL)-cholesterol (P = 0.29). After adjustmen t for small changes in body weight, LDL-cholesterol decreased by 8.4% (0.26 +/-0.10 mmol/l; P < 0.05) and fibrinogen increased (0.74+/-0.32 mmol/l; P < 0.05) after 8 weeks in the G-group. This was significantly different from the group consuming chemically fermented yoghurt and the group consuming pl acebo pills (P < 0.05). After 8 weeks, systolic blood pressure was signific antly more reduced in the StLa and G-group compared to StLr. No other diffe rences were found. Conclusion: The CAUSIDO(R) culture reduced LDL-cholesterol and increased fi brinogen in the overweight subjects at a 450 ml consumption daily for 8 wee ks. The effect on LDL-cholesterol confirms previous studies. An immunostimu lation by one of the strains in the product might explain the effect on fib rinogen in the G-group. Sponsorship: MD Foods A/S, Denmark.