Blood lipids
There were no changes in the levels of total cholesterol, LDL after 3 and 6 months, and no differences between the groups, all p > 0.05.Both the placebo and the double dose probiotic group decreased the level of HDL from baseline to the 3-month follow-up with a mean (SD) of 0.10 (0.14) mmol/L, p < 0.001 and 0.11 (0.23) mmol/L, p = 0.023, respectively. However, there was no change in the level of HDL cholesterol from baseline to 6-month follow-up (− 0.03 mmol/L, p = 0.46). No differences between the groups were observed, all p > 0.05.No group changed on average the level of triglycerides from baseline to the 3-month follow-up (all p > 0.05), and no changes between the groups were observed (p = 0.29). For those who continued with triple dose probiotics, the triglycerides decreased from baseline to 6-month follow-up by 0.22 mmol/L, p = 0.036.