Table 1 Cholesterol-lowering effects, gastrointestinal tolerance and adhesion ability of strains NH2-7C and L. rhamnosus GG.

Cholesterol-lowering effects

 Bile salt hydrolase (BSH)

+

+

 Cholesterol assimilation (%)

49.40 ± 3.46

81.40 ± 4.00

Gastrointestinal tolerance (log₁₀CFU/ml)

 Simulated gastric phase (pepsin 2000 U/ml, pH 3)

  0 h

8.56 ± 0.07

9.38 ± 0.04

  3 h

8.05 ± 0.14*

7.78 ± 0.18*

 Simulated intestinal phase (pancreatin based on trypsin activity at 100 U/ml, pH 7)

  0 h

7.00 ± 0.15

6.68 ± 0.25

  5 h

4.76 ± 0.25*

4.83 ± 0.13*

Adhesion ability (%)

68.01 ± 1.34

68.75 ± 1.24