Intestinal Probiotics: Interactions with Bile Salts and Reduction of Cholesterol

Probiotics mainly reside in host intestinal tract, where they interact with bile salts and ingested cholesterol. This paper reviews the recent progresses of probiotics on the following issues, i.e. bile salts effect on membrane composition; probiotic tolerance and modification of bile salts; the mechanism of probiotic removal of host cholesterol; and the roles that bile salt hydrolase plays.