Combination of Probiotics and Atorvastatin for the management of hyperlipidemia

By enhancing gut health and reducing harmful bacterial populations, probiotics may complement traditional lipid-lowering therapies, potentially improving treatment outcomes for individuals with hyperlipidemia.

This study aimed to explore the possible therapeutic role of probiotics (specifically Lactobacillus casei Zhang, Bifidobacterium animalis lactis V9, and Lactobacillus plantarum P8 strain) in managing hyperlipidemia (increased fat particles/lipids in the blood).

A total of 33 hyperlipidemic patients were randomly assigned to either a probiotic group (number of patients, n= 18) or a control group (n = 15). The probiotic group received probiotics (2 g once daily) in addition to Atorvastatin 20 mg given daily, while the control group received a placebo (2 g once daily) alongside Atorvastatin 20 mg given daily. The serum and faecal metabolite profiles were assembled for subsequent analyses.

In both groups, the duration of treatment significantly impacted levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (P as <0.05). The gut microbial profusion was notably higher in the probiotic group than in the other group (P as < 0.05) after 3 months.

At the phylum level, probiotics did not noticeably influence the relative abundance of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria, but did increase Tenericutes (gram-negative bacteria) and reduce Proteobacteria.

During 1, 2 and 3 months, the probiotics increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria in the gut such as Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Akkermansia muciniphila, while reducing harmful bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Eggerthella, and Sutterella compared to the control group at the genus level (P as <0.05).

Probiotics play a beneficial role in optimizing gut microbiota composition and targeting harmful bacteria in hyperlipidemic patients, contributing to increased microbial diversity and abundance in vivo.