Fig. 2: Probiotic yogurt significantly decreased heavy metal levels, altered blood biochemical indices, and increased SCFA production in the worker group. | npj Biofilms and Microbiomes

Fig. 2: Probiotic yogurt significantly decreased heavy metal levels, altered blood biochemical indices, and increased SCFA production in the worker group.

From: Human supplementation with Pediococcus acidilactici GR-1 decreases heavy metals levels through modifying the gut microbiota and metabolome

Fig. 2

Blood Cu (a) and Ni (b) levels in the high-, medium-, and low-level subsets and total levels of participants in the two groups over the trial period. Changes in urine Cu and Ni levels (c) and fecal Cu and Ni (d) throughout the trial. Serum CAT activity and MDA level (e), IL-6 and IL-1β levels, and (f) IL-10 and IL-4 levels (g) of the participants. h Changes in fecal levels of acetate, propionate, and butyrate after yogurt supplementation. For a–d, h, data are expressed as means ± standard errors of the means. SCFAs were expressed as per gram wet feces. For e–g, box limits represent 25 and 75 percentiles; the line within the box indicates median; the whisker represents the minimum and maximum points. a–g baseline (n = 35) vs. 12 weeks (n = 42); h n = 8 participants in each group. Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal–Wallis test with Dunn’s post hoc analysis in subgroups. ns, not significant; * (#), p < 0.05; ** (##), p < 0.01; *** (###), p < 0.001; ****(####), p < 0.0001. a, b * represents significance in the conventional yogurt group; # represents significance in the probiotic yogurt group at the same time point. CAT catalase, MDA malonaldehyde, IL interleukin. Source data are provided as a source data file.

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