Effects of Metabolite Combinations Produced by Lactobacillus plantarum on Plasma Cholesterol and Fatty Acids in Piglets

Abstract

Problem statement: Hypercholesterol and fatty acids in plasma are the main causes for cardiovascular disease. Reduction of risk factors from diet that associated with cardiovascular disease has much attention in animals as well as in human. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of feeding liquid metabolite combinations produced by five L. plantarum strains on the fatty acids and cholesterol concentration in plasma of postweaning piglets. Approach: A total of 120 postweaning piglets aged 26 day olds (Large White x Landrace x Duroc) were randomly assigned into one of five treatments. (i) basal diet with free antibiotic (-ve control); (ii) basal diet with 0.03% of chlortetracycline antibiotic (+ve control); (iii) basal diet with 0.3% metabolite of TL1, RG11 and RI11 (Com 1); (iv) basal diet with 0.3% metabolite of TL1, RG14 and RS5 (Com 2); (v) basal diet with 0.3% metabolite of RG11, RG14 and RI11 (Com 3). The experiment was conducted for 5 weeks. Fatty acids were analysed by Gas Chromatography (GC) and cholesterol was detected using commercial diagnostic kit. Results: The piglets fed with metabolite combinations were found to reduce plasma cholesterol and Saturated Fatty Acids (SFA) concentrations, particularly in Com 2 group which was significantly lower (p<0.05) than the -ve control group. In contrast, the Unsaturated Fatty Acids (USFA) were significantly higher (p<0.05) in Com 2 than -ve control group. The ratio of USFA and SFA was significantly higher (1.14%) in Com 2 as compared to -ve control group. However, there was significantly lower (p<0.05) in Com 3 as compared to control groups for the ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 in plasma of piglets. Conclusion: Metabolite combinations produced by L. plantarum strains have potential effects in influencing the lipid contents and reducing the cholesterol profile of the pig’s plasma.