Studies on the Passage of Lactobacillus paragasseri PA-3 through the Human Gastrointestinal Tract

Abstract

 Lactobacillus paragasseri PA-3 is a probiotic strain that has been selected on its activity to reduce purine absorption. Previous human studies have demonstrated that ingestion of yogurt containing L. paragasseri PA-3 lowers blood uric acid levels. Because the mechanism of action of L. paragasseri PA-3 to reduce purine absorption requires that L. paragasseri PA-3 remains viable in the gastrointestinal tract, the present study tested the gastrointestinal transit of L. paragasseri PA-3 in adults after ingestion of yogurt containing L. paragasseri PA-3. This study evaluated 26 healthy subjects who ingested yogurt containing L. paragasseri PA-3 for 3 days to determine whether L. paragasseri PA-3 was detected in feces. After ingestion (day 4), L. paragasseri PA-3 was detected in 24 of 26 subjetcts, and the number of the strain in feces the day after ingestion significantly increased compared with that before ingestion, indicating that live L. paragasseri PA-3 bacteria pass through the human gastrointestinal tract. In addition, it was detected in 10 subjects even 1 week after the end of the intake period (day 10), which was a significant difference from the detection rate before intake, suggesting that L. paragasseri PA-3 may survive in the intestine.