Abstract: In order to explore the effect of Lactobacillus helveticus TS206 on serum lipid levels in mice, health BABL/c mice were divided into two groups. One group was given L. helveticus TS206 bacterial suspension by gavage for 7 consecutive weeks while the other was gavaged with normal saline as control. Body weight, serum lipid levels including total serum cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and fecal total bile acid (TBA) levels were investigated in all mice. After the administration of L. helveticus TS206, body weight gains in mice were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and the mean values of TC, TG and LDL-C were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), which were restored to normal a week after the administration of L. helveticus TS206. There was no significant change in serum HDL-C concentrations between both groups (P > 0.05). Fecal TBA concentration decreased in the intervention group, reaching a value significantly lower than that in the control group after three weeks of administration, while it increased in the control group. This study demonstrated that L. helveticus TS206 could promote body weight gain in healthy mice, and effectively regulate their serum lipid levels, suggesting that orally administered L. helveticus TS206 may reduce the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

Key words: Lactobacillus helveticus TS206, serum lipid, total bile acid, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease