Oral administration of fermented milk supplemented with synbiotics can influence the physiological condition of Wistar rats in a dose-sensitive and sex-specific manner

Abstract

Fermented milk supplemented with two probiotic strains (Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07 and Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM) and a prebiotic (isomaltooligosaccharide) was orally administered to Wistar rats for 30 days using three dosages. A commercial yogurt was used as a placebo. After treatment, the total protein, hemoglobin, and albumin levels in serum were significantly increased in female rats compared with those in the control group (p<0.05), whereas no significant change occurred in the male rats. A significant decrease in serum glucose levels was observed in male rats administered a low dosage of the tested fermented milk (p<0.05). The serum triglyceride level was significantly decreased in both male and female rats (p<0.05). No significant differences were found between rats groups in body weight, food intake, food utilization rate, red blood cell counts, white blood cell counts, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urea nitrogen, creatinine, and total cholesterol. These results suggest that the fermented milk supplemented with synbiotics altered the nutritive status of the host animal and contributed to their health. However, such potent health-promoting effects could be deeply associated with the dose and sex specific. Therefore, different physiological targets and population characteristics should be managed with different combinations of probiotics and prebiotics.

Keywords: Wistar rat; fermented milk; nutritional status; prebiotic; probiotic.

Fig. 1.

Effect of SSFM on total protein in the hematology of Wistar rats. Effect of SSFM on total protein in the hematology of Wistar rats after 30 days of intervention. Results are expressed as the mean ± SE (g/l). Compared with the control group, total protein was significantly higher in female rats in the low dosage group (**p<0.01) and medium dosage group (**p<0.01). However, there was no significant difference in male rats at any dosage compared with the control group. *Compared with the control group (p<0.05); **Compared with the control group (p<0.01); ^#Compare with the yogurt group (p<0.05); ^##Compared with the yogurt group (p<0.01).

Fig. 2.

Effect of SSFM on hemoglobin in the hematology of Wistar rats. Effect of SSFM on hemoglobin in the hematology of Wistar rats after 30 days of intervention. Results are expressed as the mean ± SE (g/l). Compared with the control group, hemoglobin was significantly higher in female rats in the low dosage group (**p<0.01) and medium dosage group (**p<0.01). Hemoglobin was also significantly higher in the low dosage group (^#p<0.05) compared with the yogurt group. However, there was no significant difference in male rats at any dosage compared with the control group. *Compared with the control group (p<0.05); **Compared with the control group (p<0.01); ^#Compare with the yogurt group (p<0.05); ^##Compared with the yogurt group (p<0.01).

Fig. 3.

Effect of SSFM on albumin in the hematology of Wistar rats. Effect of SSFM on albumin in the hematology of Wistar rats after 30 days of intervention. Results are expressed as the mean ± SE (g/l). Compared with the control and yogurt group, albumin was significantly higher in female rats in the low dosage group (**p<0.01; ^#p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in male rats at any dosage compared with the control group. *Compared with the control group (p<0.05); **Compared with the control group (p<0.01); ^#Compare with the yogurt group (p<0.05); ^##Compared with the yogurt group (p<0.01).

Fig. 4.

Effect of SSFM on glucose in the hematology of Wistar rats. Effect of SSFM on serum glucose in the hematology of Wistar rats after 30 days of intervention. Results are expressed as the mean ± SE (g/l). Compared with the control and yogurt group, glucose was significantly lower in male rats in the low dosage group (**p<0.01; ^##p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in female rats with at any dosage compared with the control group. *Compared with the control group (p<0.05); **Compared with the control group (p<0.01); ^#Compare with the yogurt group (p<0.05); ^##Compared with the yogurt group (p<0.01).

Fig. 5.

Effect of SSFM on triglyceride in the hematology of Wistar rats. Effect of SSFM on triglyceride in the hematology of Wistar rats after 30 days of intervention. Results are expressed as the mean ± SE (mmol/l). A significant difference was observed in both female and male rats. The female rats of the high dosage group had a significantly lower (*p<0.05) triglyceride level compared with the control group. On the other hand, the triglyceride of male rats in low dosage group and medium dosage group were significantly lower compared with the control group (*p<0.05; *p<0.05). *Compared with the control group (p<0.05); **Compared with the control group (p<0.01); ^#Compare with the yogurt group (p<0.05); ^##Compared with the yogurt group (p<0.01).