Thakkar et al.

reported 25.3% assimilation at 48 h of incubation in culture I4. Danielson

(1987) found that three strains of L. acidophilus could reduce cholesterol

levels by 30-80% in MRS broth medium supplemented with 0.2 or 0.4%

bileȱsalts.ȱGillilandȱandȱWalkerȱ(1990)ȱalsoȱmonitoredȱsignificantȱvariationsȱ

among cultures in the range of 27.5 to 103.9 μg/ml cholesterol assimilating

ability in 12 cultures of L. acidophilus from human origin. Vujicic et al.,

(1992)ȱhaveȱfoundȱvariationsȱinȱcholesterolȱreductionȱbyȱ6ȱkefirȱculturesȱbyȱ

reporting 28-65 and 41-84% assimilation, respectively during 24 and 48 h

ofȱincubationȱbyȱtheȱtestȱcultures.ȱBasedȱonȱtheȱoverallȱbetterȱperformance,ȱ

strain PD2 and PH5 could be recommended for further in vivo feeding

trials.

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