The biological effect of skim milk fortified with Lactobacillus plantarum bacteria on biochemical markers in obese rats

Abstract:

This study aimed to evaluate the functional effects of skim milk supplemented with Lactobacillus plantarum in the metabolic and biochemical activities of diet-induced obese rats in relation to the dietary intervention and the markers of metabolic disorders. Blood lipid profile, blood glucose, liver enzymes and some kidney function indicators were analyzed in 40 rats from five experimental treatments. The findings indicated that the high fat diet had significantly increased the total cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, while reducing the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and significantly raised blood glucose and liver enzymes. The probiotic enriched skim milk group on the other hand had a decrease in total cholesterol level from 165.80 to 108.50 mg/dl, triglycerides 142.20 to 92.40 mg/dl, and low density lipoprotein (LDL) 107.96 to 48.52 mg/dl with an increase in high density lipoprotein (HDL) from 41.54 mg/dl compared to the untreated control group. Blood glucose also dropped to 110.03 mg/dL while liver AST and ALT levels were significantly lowered, showing better liver function and lower levels of oxidative stress. In terms of renal function, it was found that creatinine decreased relative to a rise in urea, possibly due to an increased protein metabolism and gut microbial activity. Overall, the results indicate that dietary intervention with probiotics skim milk is a positive factor in decreasing metabolic disorders associated with obesity, and that modifying the gut microbiome could be a key applied factor when developing dietary strategies to decrease associated health risks with metabolic syndrome.