The key findings of the clinical research were
OptiBiotix’s LP-LDL probiotic is a safe, natural ingredient that reduces blood pressure and cholesterol, key determinates of cardiovascular risk.
Combining LP-LDL with a microbiome modulator selectively enhances LP-LDL growth and biologically activity, providing three times the cholesterol reduction than that achieved by LP-LDL alone.
The first poster, presented by microbiologist Stephen O’Hara, founder and CEO of OptiBiotix as a poster and podium presentation, demonstrates that the bacterium Lactobacillus planetarium (LP-LDL) significantly reduces both LDL cholesterol and blood pressure.
The parallel, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised study was done by Professor Gibson, Professor of Food Microbiology, Head of Food Microbial Sciences at University of Reading.
Researchers investigated the cholesterol-reducing capacity of LP-LDL in healthy adults with normal to mildly elevated cholesterol, and found that not only did LP-LDL significantly reduce cholesterol in the active group, but it also reduced blood pressure.
This is a significant advantage compared with existing products as the ability to reduce both LDL and blood pressure has a multiplicative effect in reducing cardiovascular risk. The study also confirmed the safety profile of LP-LDL.
The second poster showed that OptiBiotix’s synbiotic was able to selectively enhance the growth and activity of LP-LDL in the human faecal microbiome, and so increase cholesterol reduction threefold.
This study, done by Professor Bob Rastall, Professor of Food Biotechnology and Head of Food and Nutritional Sciences at University of Reading, is the first time that research has shown that a synbiotic can increase the production and function of a specific bacterium in the microbiome.
Stephen O’Hara, CEO of OptiBiotix, commented: “The ability to create designer ingredients that can modify an individual’s microbiome to improve health places OptiBiotix at the forefront of global microbiome research and product development. I believe we are fast approaching the next stage in the development of the microbiome in healthcare, wherein scientists have the ability to precision engineer components of the microbiome to prevent, manage and treat many of today’s chronic lifestyle diseases.”
The human microbiome: The human digestive tract contains a complex and diverse ecosystem of trillions of bacteria.
Recently, advances in molecular and analytical techniques (metagenomics, metabolomics) have permitted identification and quantitation of species and strains of bacteria that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract, their metabolic activity, and interactions with the human host.
These studies have provided greater insight into the role of gut and their metabolites in health and disease.
