Hormonal
Oral administration of probiotic bacteria (specifically Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains) significantly reduces serum cholesterol levels in humans and animals.
To lower cholesterol using probiotics, you must choose specific strains known for Bile Salt Hydrolase (BSH) activity, such as Lactobacillus plantarum, L. acidophilus, or Bifidobacterium species. Generic probiotics may not work. Consistent daily consumption of these specific strains (often found in fermented foods or supplements) has been shown to reduce cholesterol by 22-33% in studies, primarily by helping your body excrete bile acids, forcing your liver to use up stored cholesterol to make more.
Oral administration of probiotics has been shown to significantly reduce cholesterol levels by as much as 22 to 33% [7, 23] or prevent elevated cholesterol levels in mice fed a fat-enriched diet [84].
Why this rating
The paper reviews multiple animal and human clinical trials showing consistent trends, though it acknowledges that exact mechanisms are not fully known and results vary by strain.
Source
Cholesterol-Lowering Probiotics as Potential Biotherapeutics for Metabolic Diseases
Manoj Kumar et al. · Experimental Diabetes Research · 2012
DOI 10.1155/2012/902917
Related findings · Hormonal
- Initial treatment for type 2 diabetes should be a combination of metformin and either an SGLT-2 inhibitor or a GLP-1 receptor agonist to achieve cardiorenal protection, rather than monotherapy or older agents like sulfonylureas.Strong
- For patients with specific monogenic obesity syndromes (leptin deficiency, POMC/PCSK1/LEPR mutations), targeted pharmacotherapy (recombinant leptin or setmelanotide) is highly effective and should be prioritized, unlike in polygenic obesity.Strong
- Continued weekly administration of 2.4 mg subcutaneous semaglutide prevents weight regain and promotes further weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity, whereas switching to placebo results in significant weight regain.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →