Effective combination against 'bad' cholesterol

An Indian research team has just made a surprising discovery in relation to the accumulation of ‘bad’ cholesterol in the arteries¹; a combination of two natural products may actually help combat hypercholesterolaemia, a condition characterised by excess cholesterol in the blood and which may be responsible for cardiovascular problems. Read on to find out more about this newly-identified combination and the promising results of this study.

Combination of two products good for digestion

The Indian scientists investigated two products known for their beneficial effects on the digestive system:

- probiotics of the Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG strain - living microorganisms with positive health effects when consumed in sufficient quantities;
- the succulent plant aloe vera, from which the mucilage is extracted to produce a gel with numerous beneficial properties.

Given their many virtues, these products potentially offer a number of therapeutic applications. This is why the Indian research team decided tab://%20[%20Anglais%20]%20/to test a combination of the two to establish their effect in improving the lipid profile.

Potential of these products for combatting the accumulation of ‘bad’ cholesterol

The researchers studied the effects of supplementation with these products in 35 rats, divided into five groups. The first served as a control group, and were fed a normal diet with no supplementation, while the other four were all fed a high-cholesterol diet, with the following variations in nutritional supplementation:

- the second group received no supplementation;
- the third was supplemented with probiotics of the Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG strain;
- the fourth was given aloe vera gel-based supplements;
- the fifth was supplemented with both the Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG probiotics and the aloe vera gel

To assess the effects of these different supplement options, the researchers measured various parameters including cholesterol levels. For a clearer understanding of their findings, we need to distinguish between HDL- and LDL-cholesterol. The latter comprises particles involved in the transport of cholesterol in the bloodstream from the liver to cells that need it. It is called ‘bad’ cholesterol because unfortunately, the cholesterol in these particles can accumulate in the arteries and cause health problems. This is why scientists are particularly interested in the effects of supplements on levels of LDL-cholesterol.

A combination with positive effects on the lipid profile

On completion of their analysis, the researchers revealed positive effects on the lipid profile of those rats given either Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG probiotics, aloe vera gel-based supplements or a combination of both. Indeed, this latter option was shown to be particularly effective, with this particular group of rats displaying:

- a 43% decrease in total cholesterol;
- a 45% fall in triglyceride levels;
- a 12% increase in ‘good’ cholesterol and a 30% reduction in ‘bad’ cholesterol;
- a decrease in the atherogenic index;
- an increase in numbers of Lactobacillus species.

These positive results confirm the researchers’ hypothesis. Combining (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG) probiotics with aloe vera gel may offer significant therapeutic benefits for combatting the accumulation of ‘bad’ cholesterol in the arteries. Supplementing with these two products may thus prevent the development of certain cardiovascular diseases.

---

> Source :
1. Kumar M1 et al., Probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Aloe vera gel improve lipid profiles in hypercholesterolemic rats, Nutrition, 2013 Mar, 29(3):574-9.