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Does Lactobacillus salivarius LS-33 Lower LDL Cholesterol? Evidence Review

A user asks whether Lactobacillus salivarius LS-33 effectively reduces LDL cholesterol. The assistant reviews the available evidence, citing a single 2012 RCT in adolescents with obesity that found no significant LDL reduction. It emphasizes strain specificity and suggests other probiotics with stronger evidence.

  • Does Lactobacillus salivarius LS-33 actually help lower LDL cholesterol, or is there no evidence for that?

  • What the evidence says about Lactobacillus salivarius LS-33 and LDL cholesterol

    Based on the available research, there is no good evidence that Lactobacillus salivarius LS-33 specifically helps lower LDL cholesterol.

    Pillser's research database contains exactly 1 study on this specific strain and outcome1:

    • A 2012 randomized controlled trial in adolescents with obesity gave participants 10¹⁰ CFU/day of LS-33 for 12 weeks2.
    • The result was neutral — the researchers explicitly reported: "there were no differences in changes from baseline to 12-week intervention with regard to ... low-density lipoprotein cholesterol"2.

    In other words, the single clinical trial available found no statistically significant reduction in LDL cholesterol attributable to this particular strain.

    Important caveats

    • Limited evidence base. There is only one study specifically on LS-33 and LDL-C. This is not enough to draw firm conclusions either way.
    • Strain specificity matters. Other strains of Lactobacillus salivarius (e.g., L. salivarius UCC118 or CECT5713) may have different effects on cholesterol. Findings for one strain do not necessarily apply to another.
    • Population differences. The study was in adolescents with obesity; results may differ in other populations (e.g., adults, those with baseline hypercholesterolemia).

    Bottom line

    At present, the evidence does not support using Lactobacillus salivarius LS-33 specifically for lowering LDL cholesterol. If you're looking for probiotics with more robust evidence for cholesterol reduction, strains like Lactobacillus plantarum and certain Lactobacillus reuteri strains have shown more promising results in clinical trials.

    Footnotes

    1. Pillser research database, Lactobacillus salivarius LS-33 & Reduced LDL Cholesterol. ↩

    2. "Probiotics to adolescents with obesity: effects on inflammation and metabolic syndrome" (2012, RCT), Pillser. ↩ ↩2

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