How does Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 lower cholesterol?

Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 produces bile salt hydrolase (BSH), which deconjugates bile salts in the intestine, making them less soluble and reducing cholesterol absorption from the gut. In vitro studies have measured up to 56.7% cholesterol reduction using this mechanism. This is a strain-specific enzymatic effect and has not yet been confirmed in human clinical trials.

Is Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 the same as other Lactobacillus casei strains?

No — ATCC 393 is a distinct, catalogued strain of Lactobacillus casei with specific genetic and functional characteristics that may differ meaningfully from other strains such as Lactobacillus casei Shirota or DN-114001. Probiotic effects are highly strain-specific, meaning research on one strain cannot be directly applied to another. Always verify the exact ATCC designation when evaluating evidence for a particular product.

What does the research say about Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 for colitis?

Animal studies using rodent colitis models show that Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 supplementation significantly reduces disease activity index (DAI) scores and restores normal colon tissue histopathology compared to untreated controls. These effects are thought to involve suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α and modulation of gut microbiota composition. No human clinical trials have yet been conducted to confirm these findings.

What is the recommended dosage of Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393?

There is currently no established human dosage for Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393, as no human clinical trials have been published for this specific strain. Animal studies typically use doses scaled to body weight that do not translate directly to human supplementation guidelines. General probiotic research suggests doses in the range of 1–10 billion CFU per day are common, but a clinician should guide dosing for therapeutic intent.

Is Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 safe for people with weakened immune systems?

Immunocompromised individuals — including those on chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients taking immunosuppressants, or patients with HIV — should avoid unsupervised probiotic use, including Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393. Rare but serious adverse events such as probiotic-associated bacteremia have been documented in vulnerable populations with other Lactobacillus strains. Medical supervision is strongly recommended before any probiotic supplementation in these groups.

Does Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 interact with antibiotics?

Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 may be sensitive to certain antibiotic classes, potentially reducing its viability when taken concurrently with broad-spectrum antibiotics. It is generally recommended to separate probiotic supplementation from antibiotic doses by at least 2–3 hours, though timing should be confirmed with your healthcare provider. After completing an antibiotic course, reintroduction of this strain may help restore beneficial gut flora disrupted by the medication.

Is Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 safe for children?

Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 is generally recognized as safe for children and has been studied in pediatric populations, particularly for supporting digestive and immune health. However, dosage adjustments for age and weight are typically necessary compared to adult formulations. Parents should consult with a pediatrician before starting any probiotic supplement, especially for infants or children with compromised immunity.

What research quality supports Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 for gut barrier function?

Most evidence for Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393's effects on gut barrier integrity comes from in vitro and animal studies showing promising mechanisms, but human clinical trials remain limited. The existing preliminary data suggests potential benefits through short-chain fatty acid production and tight junction support, though larger, well-controlled human studies are needed to establish clinical efficacy. Current evidence is considered exploratory rather than definitive for making strong clinical claims.

Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393

Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 is a specific probiotic strain that produces bile salt hydrolase (BSH), an enzyme that deconjugates bile salts to reduce cholesterol absorption in the gut. Research in animal models suggests it may also modulate intestinal inflammation by influencing gut microbiota composition and mucosal immune responses.

Category: Fermented/Probiotic Evidence: 2/10 Tier: Emerging

Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 — Hermetica Encyclopedia

Origin & History

Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 is a gram-positive, rod-shaped lactic acid bacterium originally isolated from dairy products, serving as the type strain for the L. casei group. It is cultured from microbial sources rather than extracted chemically and is widely studied as a probiotic microorganism due to its adaptability in food matrices and health-promoting properties.

Historical & Cultural Context

No historical or traditional medicine use is documented for Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393. It is primarily a modern probiotic strain isolated from dairy products and used in contemporary functional foods rather than traditional medicine systems.

Health Benefits

• Intestinal health support: Animal studies show reduced disease activity index scores and restored histopathology in colitis models (preliminary evidence)
• Cholesterol reduction: In vitro studies demonstrate up to 56.7% cholesterol reduction via bile salt hydrolase activity (preliminary evidence)
• Antimicrobial activity: Produces organic acids effective against E. coli and L. monocytogenes (in vitro evidence only)
• Anti-inflammatory effects: Modulates NF-κB signaling and promotes regulatory T cell differentiation in mouse models (animal evidence)
• Digestive support: Produces β-galactosidase enzyme for lactose metabolism with 63-95% survival in acidic conditions (in vitro evidence)

How It Works

Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 expresses bile salt hydrolase (BSH), which deconjugates glyco- and tauro-conjugated bile salts in the intestinal lumen, reducing micelle formation and thereby limiting dietary cholesterol absorption. In colitis models, this strain appears to modulate NF-κB signaling pathways and downregulate pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6, contributing to reduced intestinal inflammation. Additionally, the strain may competitively colonize gut epithelium, displacing pathogenic bacteria and reinforcing the mucosal barrier via tight junction protein upregulation.

Scientific Research

Available research on Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 is limited to in vitro and animal studies, with no specific human clinical trials or RCTs identified. Studies focus on general L. casei strain properties including intestinal disease outcomes in mice and probiotic characteristics demonstrated in laboratory settings, but no PubMed PMIDs are provided for human trials.

Clinical Summary

Current evidence for Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 is limited to in vitro and animal studies, with no published human clinical trials. In vitro assays demonstrate up to 56.7% cholesterol reduction attributable to BSH enzymatic activity under simulated gut conditions. Rodent colitis models show statistically significant reductions in disease activity index (DAI) scores and restored colon histopathology compared to untreated controls. These findings are considered preliminary and cannot yet be extrapolated to human clinical outcomes without controlled randomized trials.

Nutritional Profile

Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 is a probiotic bacterium rather than a conventional nutrient source; its 'nutritional' contribution is primarily functional. Each viable cell contributes negligible macronutrients directly, but the organism produces metabolically active compounds: lactic acid (primary fermentation end-product, ~85–90% L-isomer), acetic acid, and bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances (BLIS). Bile salt hydrolase (BSH) enzyme activity is a key bioactive output, directly linked to the observed ~56.7% in vitro cholesterol reduction via deconjugation of bile salts. The organism synthesizes small amounts of B-vitamins during fermentation, particularly folate (B9) and riboflavin (B2), though concentrations are strain- and substrate-dependent and not quantified specifically for ATCC 393 in available literature. Cell wall components include peptidoglycan and lipoteichoic acid (LTA), which serve as microbiome-modulating ligands interacting with host Toll-like receptors (TLR-2). Viable cell counts at consumption are the critical 'dose' metric, with therapeutic ranges in animal studies typically starting at 1×10⁸–1×10⁹ CFU; bioavailability is contingent on gastric acid survival, which is moderate for L. casei strains at pH 2.5–3.0 with ~40–60% survival reported for closely related strains.

Preparation & Dosage

Functional food regulations require at least 1 × 10^6 CFU/g or mL for probiotic claims. Viability studies show optimal inoculation at Log CFU/g around 7.79 in inulin suspensions, with counts maintained above 10^7 CFU/g when combined with prebiotics like inulin or GOS. No standardized human dosage ranges have been established. Consult a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement.

Synergy & Pairings

Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 pairs strongly with fructooligosaccharides (FOS) or inulin (prebiotic fibers at 3–5g doses), which serve as selective fermentation substrates that increase ATCC 393 colonization density and BSH enzyme output, amplifying both cholesterol-lowering and gut-barrier effects via elevated short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production. Pairing with Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM creates complementary antimicrobial coverage — ATCC 393 produces organic acids targeting gram-negative pathogens like E. coli, while L. acidophilus produces acidolin and bacteriocin targeting gram-positive competitors, collectively broadening pathogen suppression across both classes. Adding psyllium husk (5–10g, soluble β-glucan fiber) compounds the cholesterol-reduction pathway synergistically: psyllium physically binds deconjugated bile salts produced by ATCC 393's BSH activity, preventing reabsorption in the ileum and forcing greater hepatic cholesterol conversion to new bile acids, effectively doubling down on the same LDL-lowering mechanism through two distinct but sequential steps.

Safety & Interactions

As a Lactobacillus species, ATCC 393 is generally regarded as safe (GRAS) for healthy adults based on the broad safety profile of the Lactobacillus casei species, though strain-specific human safety data remain limited. Immunocompromised individuals, critically ill patients, and those with central venous catheters should exercise caution with any probiotic supplementation due to rare risks of bacteremia. Potential interactions with immunosuppressant drugs (e.g., cyclosporine, tacrolimus) warrant clinical supervision, as probiotic-driven immune modulation could theoretically alter drug efficacy. Pregnancy and lactation safety for this specific strain has not been evaluated in controlled studies, and consultation with a healthcare provider is advised.