Ability of neonatal human Lactobacillus isolates to remove cholesterol from liquid media

Summary The activity of a number of human intestinal strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus, including newly isolated neonatal strains, have been examined for their ability to remove cholesterol from liquid medium. In common with other authors we find that cholesterol will co‐precipitate with deconjugated bile acids as pH falls to values less than 5.0. But we also report that for some strains removal of cholesterol can occur in the absence of bile and that co‐precipitation at low pH values cannot account for all cholesterol removed. The activity is unlikely to be as a result of bacterial cholesterol oxidase or dehydrogenase but may be one of physical association with the bacterial cell surface.