Probiotic Enhances Cholesterol Drug Efficacy But Raises Safety Concerns At High Doses

The study began pinch in vitro experiments, wherever nan researchers observed that LCZ could metabolize lovastatin into its progressive form, lovastatin hydroxy acid. This metabolic conversion suggested that LCZ mightiness heighten nan drug's activity. However, nan in vivo experiments successful Syrian aureate hamsters painted a much nuanced picture. The researchers administered various combinations of LCZ and lovastatin to hyperlipidemic hamsters and monitored their wellness outcomes. [All in vivo experiments were conducted pursuing nan protocols approved by nan Inner Mongolia Agricultural University Laboratory Animal Ethical Committee (IACUC-20220007).]

In nan in vivo phase, nan researchers recovered that combining LCZ pinch low-dose lovastatin (2.5 mg/kg) led to a important simplification successful assemblage weight and humor lipid levels, pinch nary adverse effects connected liver, kidney, aliases musculus function. This operation therapy was much effective than lovastatin alone, indicating that LCZ could heighten nan drug's absorption and efficacy. However, erstwhile higher doses of lovastatin (10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg) were mixed pinch LCZ, nan hamsters exhibited accrued mortality rates. This suggests that while LCZ tin boost lovastatin absorption, it whitethorn besides exacerbate nan drug's toxicity astatine higher doses.

To understand nan underlying mechanisms, nan researchers analyzed nan gut microbiota and metabolites of nan hamsters. They recovered that LCZ altered nan gut metabolite environment, perchance enhancing nan solubility and absorption of lovastatin. This modulation of nan gut situation apt contributed to nan accrued efficacy observed pinch low-dose combinations. However, astatine higher doses, nan enhanced absorption led to toxic levels of lovastatin successful nan bloodstream.

The study besides included a elaborate study of liver cistron expression, revealing that nan operation therapy upregulated genes progressive successful bile acerb and supplier metabolism. This upregulation suggests that nan enhanced absorption of lovastatin led to accrued metabolic activity successful nan liver, further supporting nan observed therapeutic effects.

The findings item nan value of dose power successful probiotic-drug combinations. While LCZ tin importantly heighten the efficacy of low-dose lovastatin, nan imaginable for accrued toxicity astatine higher doses underscores nan request for observant objective evaluation. The study provides valuable insights into nan interactions betwixt probiotics and drugs, emphasizing nan imaginable benefits and risks of specified combinations.

Future investigation should attraction connected objective tests to further research nan therapeutic imaginable and information of LCZ-lovastatin combinations successful humans. Additionally, much elaborate studies connected nan gut microbiota and metabolite profiles could thief elucidate nan precise mechanisms underlying these interactions. This investigation not only contributes to nan section of pharmacomicrobiomics but besides has important implications for personalized medicine, wherever probiotic interventions could beryllium tailored to optimize supplier efficacy and minimize adverse effects.

Source:

Journal reference:

Li, B., et al. (2025). Enhanced Efficacy of Low-dose Lovastatin done Probiotic-Mediated Absorption: Insights from In Vitro and In Vivo Studies. Engineering. doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2025.04.017