The protective effects of probiotic-fermented soymilk on high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia and liver injury

Abstract The effects of probiotic-fermented soymilk (fermented by mixture of Bifidobacterium bifidum , Lactobacillus casei , and L. plantarum ) on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperlipidemia and liver injury were examined. C57BL/6N mice were randomly assigned into four groups that were treated with different diets: normal chow (NC), HFD, HFD with probiotic-fermented soymilk and HFD with non-fermented soymilk. After treatment for 6 weeks, probiotic-fermented soymilk treatment significantly reduced HFD-induced body weight gain, hyperlipidemia, liver fat accumulation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. In addition, probiotic-fermented soymilk consumption significantly reduced the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and liver tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) compared with the HFD treatment. Further, probiotic-fermented soymilk significantly increased the serum leptin level. In conclusion, probiotic-fermented soymilk reduced hyperlipidemia and liver injury induced by HFD. The role of probiotic-fermented soymilk may decrease the production of liver LPS, TNF-α, and oxidative stress and induce adipose leptin and triacylglycerol hydrolase (TGH) production.