A combination of calcium phosphate and probiotics beneficially influences intestinal lactobacilli and cholesterol metabolism in humans

Background & aims: The study focuses on the influence of a probiotic supplement alone and in combination with a calcium supplement on faecal lactobacilli colonisation and beneficial health effects such as a lowering of blood cholesterol. Methods: Thirty-two men and women participated in the double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. All participants consumed a probiotic drink containing 10(10) CFU/d Lactobacillus paracasei (LPC37) for four weeks. In addition, one group consumed bread enriched with pentacalcium hydroxy-triphosphate (Cap; 1 g Ca/d) and the other group had bread without CaP. After a two-week washout and a two-week placebo period, the intervention was switched for further four weeks. Results: After intervention with LPC37 + CaP, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentration in plasma decreased significantly compared to LPC37 and placebo. The faecal concentration of L. paracasei and that of all lactobacilli increased significantly after LPC37 + CaP and LPC37 compared to placebo. Moreover, secondary bile acids in faeces increased significantly after LPC37 + CaP intervention compared to placebo. Conclusions: CaP modulates the colonisation of LPC37 in the human gut under combinatory supplementation of CaP and LPC37. The combined supplementation also decreases plasma LDL-cholesterol and the LDL/HDL ratio in healthy, moderately hypercholesterolemic men and women, which could be also due to the CaP supplementation. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.