A combination of Tween 80 with CaCl2 enhances the hypocholesterolemic activity of bile salt hydrolase-active Lactobacillus casei F0422 in rats fed a cholesterol-rich diet

The effects of a Tween 80 and CaCl 2 mixture on the hypocholesterolemic activity of bile salt hydrolase (BSH)-active Lactobacillus casei F0422 were investigated in rats fed a cholesterol-rich diet for 3 weeks. This mixture significantly enhanced the hypocholesterolemic activity of strain F0422 in rats. The group administered drinking water supplemented with both strain F0422 and the Tween 80 and CaCl 2 mixture had significantly lower levels of total serum cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total liver cholesterol than did the group administered drinking water supplemented only with strain F0422 or the Tween 80 and CaCl 2 mixture. The hypocholesterolemic activity of the combined strain F0422 and Tween 80 and CaCl 2 mixture was attributed to the increase in fecal bile acid excretion through enhancement of bile salt tolerance and BSH catalytic activity of strain F0422 by Tween 80 and up-regulation of the adhesion of strain F0422 to intestinal epithelial cells by CaCl 2 .