Figure 7

Altered cholesterol homeostasis in mice fed a diet supplemented with green tea and Lactobacillus plantarum . Total cholesterol content in liver after 11 (A) and 22 (B) weeks on the different diets. Hepatic mRNA expression of hydroxy-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR, C and D) and sterol regulatory-binding protein 2 (SREBP2, E and F) after 11 and 22 weeks respectively. Ctrl = high fat control diet (HFD), Lp = HFD + L. plantarum in the drinking water, GT = HFD supplemented with 4% green tea powder, Lp + GT = HFD supplemented with 4% green tea powder and L. plantarum in the drinking water. Data are means ± SEM. n = 21 at 11 weeks and n = 9–11 at 22 weeks. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.