Previous studies have shown that Lactobacillus plantarum LIP-1 has the obvious hypolipidemic effect, and microencapsulated probiotics can ensure the strains live through the gastrointestinal tract, although there has been much research on both preparation and assessment methods for probiotics microcapsules, most assessments were made in vitro and few were validated in vivo. In this study, the protective effect of microencapsulation and the possible hypolipidaemic mechanisms of probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum LIP-1 (hereafter LIP-1) were evaluated in rats. Treatments included rats fed on: normal diet, high-fat diet, high-fat diet with an intragastric supplement of either non-microencapsulated LIP-1 cells (NME LIP-1) or microencapsulated LIP-1 (ME LIP-1). Lipid metabolism indicators were measured during the experiment and following euthanasia.Microencapsulation increased survival and colonization of LIP-1 in the colon. ME LIP-1 was superior to NME LIP-1 in reducing cholesterol. The mechanisms behind the hypolipidemic effect exerted by LIP-1 are possibly due to: promoting the excretion of cholesterol, improving antioxygenic potentials, enhancing recovery from the injury in the liver, cardiovascular intima and intestinal mucosa, promoting the generation of SCFAs, and improving lipid metabolism.This study confirms that microencapsulation provides effective protection of LIP-1 in the digestive system and the role of LIP-1 in the prevention and cure of hyperlipidemia, providing theoretical support for the probiotics to enter clinical applications. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.