Hypocholesterolaemic effect and anti-hypertensive properties of probiotics and prebiotics: A review. (August 2016) - Miremadi, Fatemeh
Highlights: The hypocholesterolaemic and antihypertensive properties of synbiotic foods are documented by clinical and animal studies. The underlying mechanisms of cholesterol reduction and anti-hypertensive properties of synbiotic foods were explored. Controversies associated with elucidating these mechanisms were reviewed. Based on this review, it could be concluded that synbiotic foods are safe for human consumption. Abstract: Hypercholesterolaemia (HCE) and hypertension (HT) are two major contributing factors in development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). As synthetic medications used to treat HCE and HT can cause several side effects such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, various dietary approaches have been proposed to improve the HCE and HT at the population level. Most popular dietary intervention includes the use of probiotics and prebiotics in the development of functional foods. This review covers (1) the hypocholesterolaemic effects and anti-hypertensive properties of probiotics and prebiotics via several mechanisms, (2) the evidence generated from both in vitro experiments and in vivo trials and some controversial findings that are raised, (3) the effective dosage of prebiotics and probiotics, and (4) safety issues regarding the use of probiotics and prebiotics in human diet.