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Effect of orally administered L. fermentum NCIMB 5221 on markers of metabolic syndrome: an in vivo analysis using ZDF rats

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Abstract

Metabolic syndrome, encompassing type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease, is a growing health concern of industrialized countries. Ferulic acid (FA) is a phenolic acid found in foods normally consumed by humans that has demonstrated antioxidant activity, cholesterol-lowering capabilities, and anti-tumorigenic properties. Select probiotic bacteria, including Lactobacillus fermentum NCIMB 5221, produce FA due to intrinsic ferulic acid esterase activity. The aim of the present research was to investigate a FA-producing probiotic, L. fermentum NCIMB 5221, as a biotherapeutic for metabolic syndrome. The probiotic formulation was administered daily for 8 weeks to Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats, a model of hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia. Results show that the probiotic formulation reduced fasting insulin levels and insulin resistance, significantly reduced serum triglycerides (p = 0.016), lowered serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (p = 0.008), and significantly reduced the atherogenic (p = 0.016) and atherosclerosis (p = 0.012) index as compared to the control animals. In addition, the probiotic formulation significantly increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (p = 0.041) as compared to the control animals. This research indicates that administration of the FA-producing L. fermentum NCIMB 5221 has the potential to reduce insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, hypercholesterolemia, and other markers involved in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome. Further studies are required to investigate the human clinical potential of the probiotic formulation in affecting the markers and pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge a Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) grant (MPO 64308) and grants from Micropharma Limited to Dr. Satya Prakash, a Doctoral Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) to Catherine Tomaro-Duchesneau, and Fonds de recherche du Québec–Santé (FRSQ) Doctoral awards to Meenakshi Malhotra and Laetitia Rodes. The authors acknowledge Daniel Marinescu, Adrian Moores, Erminia di Pietro, and all of the animal health technicians at McGill University in the Lyman Duff Medical Building animal facility for their help during the animal procedures. The authors would also like to acknowledge Dr. Mark Hancock from the McGill University Sheldon Biotechnology Centre for his help with the assays using the Sector® Imager 2400.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biomedical Technology and Cell Therapy Research Laboratory, Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Physiology, and Artificial Cells and Organs Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, 3775 University Street, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 2B4, Canada

    Catherine Tomaro-Duchesneau, Shyamali Saha, Meenakshi Malhotra, Mitchell L. Jones, Alain Labbé, Laetitia Rodes, Imen Kahouli & Satya Prakash

  2. Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, 3775 University Street, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 2B4, Canada

    Shyamali Saha

  3. Department of Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, 3775 University Street, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 2B4, Canada

    Imen Kahouli

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  1. Catherine Tomaro-Duchesneau
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Correspondence to Satya Prakash.

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Tomaro-Duchesneau, C., Saha, S., Malhotra, M. et al. Effect of orally administered L. fermentum NCIMB 5221 on markers of metabolic syndrome: an in vivo analysis using ZDF rats. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 98, 115–126 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-013-5252-8

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