AUTHOR=Lu Mengyao , Sun Jin , Zhao Yuning , Zhang Haowen , Li Xinyue , Zhou Jingbo , Dang Hongyang , Zhang Jidong , Huang Wenjing , Qi Ce , Li Duo 

TITLE=Prevention of High-Fat Diet-Induced Hypercholesterolemia by Lactobacillus reuteri Fn041 Through Promoting Cholesterol and Bile Salt Excretion and Intestinal Mucosal Barrier Functions

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nutrition

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.851541

DOI=10.3389/fnut.2022.851541

ISSN=2296-861X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Objectives:</title><p><italic>Lactobacillus reuteri</italic> Fn041 (Fn041) is a probiotic isolated from immunoglobulin A coated microbiota in the human breast milk of Gannan in China with a low incidence of hypercholesterolemia. This study aims to explore the role and mechanism of Fn041 in preventing hypercholesterolemia caused by a high-fat diet in mice.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>C57BL/6N mice were fed a low-fat diet or a high-fat diet and gavage with Fn041 and <italic>Lactobacillus rhamnosus</italic> GG (LGG) for 8 weeks.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Both Fn041 and LGG prevented the occurrence of hypercholesterolemia, liver and testicular fat accumulation. In addition, a high-fat diet causes intestinal dysbiosis and mucosal barrier damage, which is associated with hypercholesterolemia. Fn041 prevented the high-fat diet-induced reduction in alpha diversity of intestinal microbiota and intestinal mucosal barrier damage. Fn041 treatment significantly increased fecal total cholesterol and total bile acids.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusions</title><p>Fn041 prevented hypercholesterolemia by enhancing cholesterol excretion and mucosal barrier function.</p></sec>