Probiotic LP-LDL Tested to Cut Cholesterol in Celiac Disease Patients
A completed pilot trial explores whether a cholesterol-lowering probiotic can improve cardiometabolic health in people with celiac disease.
Summary
People with celiac disease often have altered gut microbiomes that may worsen cardiovascular risk. This completed pilot trial from the University of Roehampton tested LP-LDL, a Lactobacillus plantarum probiotic strain known to reduce LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol in general populations, specifically in celiac patients. Prior research showed LP-LDL taken twice daily significantly reduced LDL cholesterol by nearly 14%, total cholesterol by over 37%, and triglycerides by nearly 54% while raising HDL cholesterol in mildly hypercholesterolemic adults. The trial used a placebo-controlled design to see whether these cardiometabolic benefits extend to the celiac population, where gut dysbiosis and malabsorption complicate standard interventions. Results could open new dietary supplement strategies for managing cardiovascular risk in this underserved group.
Detailed Summary
Celiac disease affects 2–5% of genetically susceptible individuals worldwide, and growing evidence points to gut dysbiosis as a contributing factor in its onset and progression. Beyond digestive symptoms, celiac patients frequently exhibit altered lipid profiles and elevated cardiovascular risk markers, yet this population remains understudied in cardiometabolic intervention trials. Addressing this gap, researchers at the University of Roehampton designed a pilot human intervention study to evaluate the LP-LDL probiotic strain in celiac disease patients.
LP-LDL is a specific strain of Lactobacillus plantarum selected for its high bile salt hydrolase activity, which reduces cholesterol reabsorption in the gut and liver. In three prior human studies in normally to mildly hypercholesterolemic adults, daily supplementation with 2×10⁹ CFU twice daily produced striking results: LDL cholesterol fell by 13.9%, total cholesterol by 37.6%, and triglycerides by 53.9%, while HDL cholesterol rose by 14.7% in adults over 60 years of age. A 2022 double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in the Journal of Functional Foods confirmed statistically significant reductions in total cholesterol, LDL, non-HDL cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B, with no adverse effects reported.
This pilot study extends that research to celiac patients — a group where intestinal dysbiosis is common and conventional dietary interventions may be less effective due to malabsorption and strict gluten-free dietary requirements. Using a placebo comparator arm, the trial assessed whether LP-LDL could meaningfully reduce cardiovascular risk biomarkers in this distinct clinical population.
If effective, LP-LDL supplementation could offer celiac patients a safe, non-pharmacological tool to manage cholesterol and reduce cardiovascular risk alongside their gluten-free diet. This is especially relevant given that probiotic interventions may simultaneously address gut dysbiosis — a potential disease modifier in celiac itself.
However, the trial is classified as Phase NA and described as a pilot study, meaning the sample size is likely small and results may lack statistical power for definitive conclusions. Full outcome data have not yet been published in peer-reviewed form, and this summary is based solely on the clinical trial abstract.
Key Findings
- LP-LDL probiotic previously reduced LDL cholesterol by 13.9% and total cholesterol by 37.6% in mildly hypercholesterolemic adults.
- Triglycerides dropped 53.9% and HDL rose 14.7% in adults over 60 in prior LP-LDL studies.
- This trial specifically targets celiac patients, who face elevated cardiovascular risk and gut dysbiosis.
- LP-LDL works by inhibiting bile salt reabsorption via high bile salt hydrolase activity.
- No adverse effects were reported in prior human trials of this probiotic strain.
Methodology
This is a completed pilot human intervention study with a placebo comparator arm, sponsored by the University of Roehampton. The intervention involved LP-LDL probiotic supplementation in celiac disease patients, evaluating multiple cardiometabolic biomarkers. Specific sample size, dosing duration, and primary endpoint data are not available from the abstract alone.
Study Limitations
This summary is based on the clinical trial abstract only; full results, sample size, and statistical outcomes are not yet available in published peer-reviewed form. As a pilot study, it may be underpowered to detect definitive treatment effects. The Phase NA designation and pilot design limit the generalizability of any findings.
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