Cardiovascular　disease　(CVD)　is　a　health　problem　worldwide,　and　elevated　cholesterol　levels　are　a　key　risk　factor　for　the　disease.　Dysbiotic　gut　microbiota　has　been　shown　to　be　associated　with　CVD　development.　However,　the　beneficial　effects　of　healthy　microbiota　in　decreasing　cholesterol　levels　have　not　been　summarized.　Herein,　we　begin　by　discussing　the　potential　mechanisms　by　which　the　gut　microbiota　reduces　cholesterol　levels.　We　further　sketch　the　application　of　probiotics　from　the　genera　Lactobacillus　and　Bifidobacterium　in　reducing　cholesterol　levels　in　clinical　studies.　Finally,　we　present　the　cholesterol-lowering　function　of　beneficial　commensal　microbes,　such　as　Akkermansia　and　Bacteroides　spp.,　as　these　microbes　have　potential　to　be　the　next-generation　probiotics　(NGPs).　The　information　reviewed　in　this　paper　will　help　people　to　understand　how　the　gut　microbiome　might　alter　cholesterol　metabolism　and　enable　the　development　of　NGPs　to　prevent　and　treat　CVD.　©　2022　Elsevier　Ltd