Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the beneficial effect of isoflavones alone or probiotics-co-fermented isoflavones on serum and hepatic lipid profile, serum steroid (SHs) and thyroid hormones (THs) of hypercholesterolemic rats (N = 48). Animals were fed for 8 weeks with probiotics-co-fermented isoflavones or isoflavones alone, beside high-fat-high-cholesterol diet. Serum was analyzed for cholesterols, triglycerides (TG), SHs and THs. Results demonstrated that the given treatments significantly decreased serum total-cholesterol (TC), low-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL/HDL ratio, and increased TG, compared to controls. The probiotics-co-fermented isoflavones decreased TC, LDL-C and LDL/HDL ratio more effectively than isoflavones alone. Also, both isoflavones treatments induced a hyperthyroidism state, as the levels of T-T4, T-T3 and fT3 significantly increased. In addition, these treatments decreased testosterone and increased cortisol levels. Thus, isoflavones-containing-treatments, particularly probiotics-co-fermented isoflavones, could reduce CVD incidence by controlling lipid profile; and this control could in part be due to modulation of SHs and THs.
Declaration of interest
The authors are grateful to the Scientific Research Deanship, Mu’tah University, Jordan, for the financial support provided for this research work.