Effect of Orally Administered Microencapsulated FA-Producing L. fermentum on Markers of Metabolic Syndrome: An In Vivo Analysis

Abstract

Ferulic Acid (FA) is a natural phenolic acid produced by a number of lactic acid bacteria. FA has a number of beneficial properties, including: antioxidant activity, anti-tumorigenic properties and cholesterol-lowering capabilities. Our group has previously screened lactobacilli for FA production, and selected L. fermentum ATCC 11976 (L.f. 11976) as one of the best producers. Alginate-polylysine-alginate (APA) microencapsulation has proven successful for the oral delivery of this strain to the colon, where production of FA is greatest. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of APA microencapsulated L.f. 11976 to modulate markers of metabolic syndrome. The antioxidant activity, as a potential mechanism of action to treat/prevent metabolic syndrome of free and microencapsulated L.f. 11976 was quantified. A high-fat fed BioF1B Golden Syrian hamster model was used to investigate the effects of orally administered microencapsulated L.f. 11976 on markers of metabolic syndrome. Results demonstrate that the microencapsulated L.f. 11976 formulation greatly reduced the adiposity index (p = 0.0014), serum insulin (p = 0.0042), insulin resistance (p = 0.0096), glycosylated albumin (p = 0.00013), serum leptin (p = 0.048), serum uric acid (p =0.025) serum total cholesterol (p = 0.024), serum esterified cholesterol (p = 0.0328) and free non-esterified fatty acid (p = 0.029) levels in the treated animals. This research indicates that the probiotic L.f. 11976 microencapsulated formulation may significantly delay the onset of insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia and obesity, indicating a lower risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. We propose and discuss the potential mechanism(s) of action by which FA is acting. With these in mind, further in vivo studies are required to validate the therapeutic effects of the formulation and to investigate the mechanism(s) of action by which the probiotic formulation is acting.