Study suggests probiotic Cardioviva (Micropharma) can help reduce bad cholesterol in blood

A new study suggests that a probiotic Cardioviva (lactobacillus reuteri), from Micropharma, can lower key cholesterol-bearing molecules in the blood as well as "bad" and total cholesterol in patients with high cholesterol. The study involved 127 adult patients with high cholesterol. About half the participants took L. reuteri NCIMB 30242 twice a day, while the rest were given placebo capsules. Those taking the probiotic had LDL levels 11.6 per cent lower than those on placebo after nine weeks. Furthermore, cholesterol esters were reduced by 6.3 per cent and cholesterol ester saturated fatty acids by 8.8 per cent, compared with the placebo group. This suggests that the probiotic formulation can reduce cholesterol esters and in particular reduce the cholesterol esters associated with 'bad' saturated fatty acids in the blood.

From correlations between LDL reduction and bile measurements in the gut, data suggest the probiotic broke up bile salts, leading to reduced cholesterol absorption in the gut and less LDL. According to Mitchell L. Jones, the founder of Micropharma, the probiotic worked at doses of just 200 milligrams a day, less than those for soluble fiber or other natural products used to reduce cholesterol.