Effect of supplementation of L. plantarum and L. casei based probiotic milk powder on hematology, blood biochemistry and lipid profile of Charles Foster rats

Effects of supplementation of L. plantarum and L. casei based spray dried probiotic milk powder on hematology, blood biochemistry and lipid profile was investigated in Charles Foster (CF) rats. Forty-eight male CF rats (21 day old) were divided into four groups and fed on basal diets supplemented with plane spray dried milk powder without any probiotic (control) and L. plantarum, L. casei and the mixed culture of L. plantarum and L. casei based spray dried probiotic milk powder in LP, LC and LPLC treatment groups, respectively. Supplementation of diets with spray dried probiotic milk powder containing either the monoculture of L. plantarum or L. casei or their mixed culture improved health performance of rats in terms of hematological and blood biochemical parameters. Significant decrease in the total serum cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides, and a significant increase in HDL-cholesterol concentration was observed in rats fed on diets supplemented with spray dried probiotic milk powder. Although the improvement in blood biochemical, hematological parameters and serum lipid profile of experimental rats was observed in all the three probiotic milk powder supplemented groups viz. LP, LC and LPLC; however these improvement was more in the L. plantarum and L. casei mixed culture supplemented group as compared to other two monoculture probiotic milk powder supplemented groups. Nevertheless, these increases were only of statistical significance without any clinical relevance as most of these parameters were within the normal physiological values for rats.