*Article* **A Pilot Study of whether or Not Vegetable and Fruit Juice Containing** *Lactobacillus paracasei* **Lowers Blood Lipid Levels and Oxidative Stress Markers in Thai Patients with Dyslipidemia: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial**

**Pattharaparn Siripun <sup>1</sup> , Chaiyavat Chaiyasut 1,2,\* , Narissara Lailerd <sup>3</sup> , Netnapa Makhamrueang <sup>1</sup> , Ekkachai Kaewarsar <sup>1</sup> and Sasithorn Sirilun 1,2,\***


**Citation:** Siripun, P.; Chaiyasut, C.; Lailerd, N.; Makhamrueang, N.; Kaewarsar, E.; Sirilun, S. A Pilot Study of whether or Not Vegetable and Fruit Juice Containing *Lactobacillus paracasei* Lowers Blood Lipid Levels and Oxidative Stress Markers in Thai Patients with Dyslipidemia: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. *Appl. Sci.* **2022**, *12*, 4913. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/app12104913

Academic Editors: Luca Mazzoni, Maria Teresa Ariza Fernández and Franco Capocasa

Received: 11 April 2022 Accepted: 10 May 2022 Published: 12 May 2022

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**Abstract:** Dyslipidemia is one of the risk factors of cardiovascular disease, which is the main cause of mortality worldwide. Meanwhile, lipid-lowering drug side-effects may also occur. Thus, consumption of vegetables and fruits containing probiotics is a good alternative to influence the lipid profile in plasma. This study investigated the effect of consuming vegetable and fruit juice (VFJ) with (probiotic group) and without probiotic *Lactobacillus paracasei* (placebo group), on the body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, lipid profile, lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress enzymes, and bile acid level in dyslipidemic patients (n = 20) at Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital for 30 days. The levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), and TG/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio in the probiotic group were significantly lower than those in the placebo group. The HDL-C concentration in the probiotic group was higher than that in the placebo group. The probiotic group showed significantly decreased malondialdehyde levels; increased oxidative stress enzymes, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in the plasma; and increased bile acid (BA) levels in the feces. Therefore, the findings of this study demonstrate that VFJ enriched with probiotic *L. paracasei* may represent an alternative method for the prevention of dyslipidemia during the primary intervention stage for patients who are not yet taking other medication.

**Keywords:** clinical trial; dyslipidemia; *Lactobacillus paracasei*; probiotics; vegetable and fruit juice
