Hypocholesterolemic and Growth Promoting Effects of Lactobacillus plantarum AK Isolated from a Nigerian Fermented Cereal Product on Rats Fed High Fat Diet

The hypocholesterolemic effect of Lactobacillus plantarum AK strain was tested in rats fed high cholesterol diet. The lipid profile, growth rate and microflora dynamics of rats that received L. plantarum AK strain were significantly different from the control group (p < 0.5). In particular low density lipoprotein was lower in serum of rats that received L. plantarum than those of the control group. The test group had a higher growth rate, higher lactobacilli counts but lower coliform and Escherichia coli counts over a period of 40 days and these observed differences were significant (p < 0.05). These results are indicative of the abilities of this strain to lower serum cholesterol levels as well as to improve intestinal microbial balance as observed in the microflora dynamics over a period of 40 days.