Probiotics for Cardiovascular Diseases, Hypertension, Hypercholesterolemia, and Cancer Condition: A Summary of the Evidence

For a few decades, bacteria called probiotics have been added to some foods because of their salutary effects for human health. Although only various clinical studies have been conducted, that probiotic could be feasible in obstructing and treating some leading diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, cancer & other potential diseases. Probiotics have been suggested to reduce cholesterol via various mechanisms without any deleterious effect on human health. Among their various effects, anti-cancer properties have been highlighted in recent years. Such effect includes suppression of the growth of microbiota implicated in the production of mutagens and carcinogens, alteration in carcinogen metabolism and protection of DNA from oxidative damage as well as regulation of the immune system. Outcomes from animals and human studies suggest a tolerable cholesterol-lowering action of dairy products fermented with adequate strain(s) of LAB (lactic acid bacteria) and bifidobacteria. Mechanistically, probiotic bacteria ferment food-derived indigestible carbohydrates to produce short-chain fatty acids in the gastrointestinal tract, which can then cause a reduction in the systemic levels of blood lipids by suppressing hepatic cholesterol synthesis and/or redistributing cholesterol from plasma to the liver. Besides, some bacteria may intervene with cholesterol absorption from the gut by deconjugating bile salts and therefore affecting the metabolism of cholesterol, or by directly embodying cholesterol which is then helpful for reducing coronary heart disease, including hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. In this review, we will focus mainly on reviewing existing studies concerning the effects of probiotic food in ameliorating health and treating diseases particularly cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia & cancer.