Study on the in Vivo Cholesterol‐Lowering Effect of Galacto‐Oligosaccharides Synergized with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum BF_15 via Modulation of Gut Microbiota

Previous findings revealed a significant in vitro synergistic cholesterol‐lowering effect between galacto‐oligosaccharides (GOS) and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum BF_15, although the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, this study innovatively developed a synbiotic intervention strategy for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Animal experiments have shown that using synbiotics can significantly lower lipid levels in mice fed a high‐cholesterol diet ( p < 0.05) and noticeably improve fatty liver changes. Analysis using 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that after intervention, there was an increase in the presence of bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity and short‐chain fatty acid (SCFAs) producers in the gut. On a molecular level, probiotics work by promoting the production of butyrate, which helps regulate the FXR/FGF15/FGFR4 signaling pathway. This regulation increases the expression of CYP7A1 , speeding up the conversion of cholesterol into bile acids and effectively alleviating high cholesterol levels in the blood. This study reveals a new mechanism by which probiotics and prebiotics collaboratively regulate fat metabolism through the gut–liver axis, providing an important theoretical basis and experimental support for preventing and intervening in high cholesterol conditions.