Double benefit claims for antimicrobial and antioxidative probiotic

This paper describes the in vitro assessment of the functional properties of probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum ME-3 (DSM14241) and evaluates the possibility for enhancement of the antioxidative activity of the human organism colonized or not with Helicobacter pylori (Hp) through the use of the synbiotic comprising L. fermentum ME-3, Lactobacillus paracasei 8700:2 and Bifidobacterium longum 46 with Raftilose P95 in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled volunteer cross-over trial. In vitro the probiotic strain ME-3 suppressed both clinical and reference strains of Hp and expressed the highest antioxidative activity among the probiotic bacteria. In a volunteer trial the consumption of the synbiotic suppressed the oxidative stress indices in healthy volunteers colonized or not with Hp. However, this beneficial effect was apparent without systemic antimicrobial influence of probiotic bacteria on Hp colonization. This suggests the possibility to apply the probiotic strain ME-3 with double health claims for reduction of the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in the composition of the synbiotic as an adjunct to Hp antimicrobial therapy.