Daily intake of heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum L-137 improves inflammation and lipid metabolism in overweight healthy adults: a randomized-controlled trial

• Published in: European journal of nutrition Vol. 59; no. 6; pp. 2641 - 2649
• Main Authors: Tanaka, Yusuke, Hirose, Yoshitaka, Yamamoto, Yoshihiro, Yoshikai, Yasunobu, Murosaki, Shinji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.09.2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Alanine; Alanine transaminase; Aspartate aminotransferase; aspartate transaminase; biomarkers; Body mass index; Body weight; C-reactive protein; Cell proliferation; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Cholesterol; Concanavalin A; Inflammation; Lactobacillus plantarum; leukocyte count; Leukocytes (mononuclear); Lipid metabolism; Lipids; low density lipoprotein cholesterol; Metabolism; Nutrition; Original Contribution; Overweight; Peripheral blood mononuclear cells; placebos; risk; Inflammation; Heat-killed bacteria; Lipid metabolism; Overweight subjects; Lactobacillus plantarum
• ISSN: 1436-6207; 1436-6215; 1436-6215
• DOI: 10.1007/s00394-019-02112-3

Purpose The effects of heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum L-137 (HK L-137) on inflammation and lipid metabolism were investigated in overweight volunteers. Methods One hundred healthy subjects with a body mass index from 23.0 to 29.9 (51 men and 49 women; mean age: 41.4 years) were enrolled in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group study. Subjects were randomly assigned to daily administration of a tablet containing HK L-137 (10 mg) or a placebo tablet for 12 weeks. Blood samples were collected every 4 weeks to measure biomarkers of lipid metabolism and inflammatory mediators. Results The percent change of concanavalin A-induced proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was significantly larger in the HK L-137 group than in the control group, similar to previous studies. The decreases of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase over time were significantly larger in the HK L-137 group than in the control group, as were the decreases of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and the leukocyte count at one time point. These effects of HK L-137 were stronger in the subjects with higher C-reactive protein levels. Conclusions These findings suggest that daily intake of HK L-137 can improve inflammation and lipid metabolism in subjects at risk of inflammation.