Food components that reduce cholesterol absorption.
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Animals↗
Biomedical subjects
Timothy P Carr
Publications and source records attributed to Timothy P Carr.
Reduction in cholesterol absorption is enhanced by stearate-enriched plant sterol esters in hamsters.
Consumption of plant sterol esters reduces plasma LDL cholesterol concentration by inhibiting intestinal cholesterol absorption. Commercially available plant sterol esters are prepared by esterifying free sterols to fatty acids from edible plant oils such as canola, soybean, and sunflower. To determine the influence of the fatty acid moiety on cholesterol metabolism, plant sterol esters were made with fatty acids from soybean oil (SO), beef tallow (BT), or purified stearic acid (SA) and fed to male hamsters for 4 wk. A control group fed no plant sterol esters was also included. Hamsters fed BT and SA had significantly lower cholesterol absorption and decreased concentrations of plasma non-HDL cholesterol and liver esterified cholesterol, and significantly greater fecal sterol excretion than SO and control hamsters. Cholesterol absorption was lowest in hamsters fed SA (7.5%), whereas it was 72.9% in control hamsters. Cholesterol absorption was correlated with fecal sterol excretion (r = -0.72, P < 0.001), liver cholesterol concentration (r = 0.88, P < 0.001), and plasma non-HDL cholesterol concentration (r = 0.85, P < 0.001). A multiple regression model that included each sterol ester type vs. cholesterol absorption indicated that intake of steryl stearate was the only dietary component that contributed significantly to the model (R2 = -0.75, P < 0.001). Therefore, our results demonstrate that BT and SA are more effective than SO in reducing cholesterol absorption, liver cholesterol, and plasma non-HDL cholesterol concentration, suggesting that cardioprotective benefits can be achieved by consuming stearate-enriched plant sterol esters.
Absorption↗
Trans fatty acids alter the lipid composition and size of apoB-100-containing lipoproteins secreted by HepG2 cells.
This study was conducted to determine the secretion rate and composition of lipoproteins secreted by HepG2 cells as influenced by the type of fatty acid present in the incubation medium. Cells were preincubated for 24 h with palmitic, oleic, elaidic, linoleic or conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), and the lipoproteins secreted during a subsequent incubation period of 24 h were collected for analysis. The secretion rate of apolipoprotein B-100 (apoB) was significantly greater in HepG2 cells preincubated with elaidic acid compared with those preincubated with palmitic or oleic acid; apoB secretion was greater in cells preincubated with CLA compared with those preincubated with linoleic acid. The lipid composition of secreted lipoproteins was also influenced by fatty acid treatment, resulting in significantly smaller lipoprotein particles secreted by cells preincubated with elaidic acid and CLA compared with those secreted by cells treated with oleic acid and linoleic acid, respectively. Our results are relevant to human metabolism for the following reasons: (1) the size of plasma low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) is determined, at least in part, by the composition of apoB-containing lipoproteins secreted by the liver; (2) small plasma LDL particles are associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease; and (3) specific dietary fatty acids can affect the composition and size of plasma LDLs, thereby imparting a relative atherogenicity to plasma LDLs independent of LDL cholesterol concentration. The present study therefore suggests that elaidic acid and CLA promote the hepatic secretion of small apoB-containing lipoproteins, which could lead to an increased production of small plasma LDL particles.
Apolipoprotein B-100↗
Grain sorghum lipid extract reduces cholesterol absorption and plasma non-HDL cholesterol concentration in hamsters.
Grain sorghum is a rich source of phytochemicals that could potentially benefit human health. In this study, male hamsters were fed AIN-93M diets supplemented with a hexane-extractable lipid fraction from grain sorghum whole kernels. The grain sorghum lipids (GSL) comprised 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, or 5.0% of the diet by weight. After 4 wk, dietary GSL significantly reduced plasma non-HDL cholesterol concentration in a dose-dependent manner with reductions of 18, 36, and 69% in hamsters fed 0.5, 1.0, and 5.0% GSL, respectively, compared with controls. Liver cholesteryl ester concentration was also significantly reduced in hamsters fed GSL. Plasma HDL cholesterol concentration was not altered (P > 0.05) by dietary treatment. Cholesterol absorption efficiency was significantly reduced by GSL in a dose-dependent manner. Cholesterol absorption was also directly correlated with plasma non-HDL cholesterol concentration (r = 0.97, P < 0.05), suggesting that dietary GSL lowers non-HDL cholesterol, at least in part, by inhibiting cholesterol absorption. TLC and GLC analyses of the GSL extract revealed the presence of plant sterols and policosanols at concentrations of 0.35 and 8.0 g/100 g GSL, respectively. Although plant sterols reduce cholesterol absorption, policosanols may inhibit endogenous cholesterol synthesis. The data suggest that these components of GSL extract may work collectively in lowering plasma and liver cholesterol concentrations. Our findings further indicate that grain sorghum contains beneficial components that could be used as food ingredients or dietary supplements to manage cholesterol levels in humans.
Absorption↗
Dietary fatty acids regulate acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase and cytosolic cholesteryl ester hydrolase in hamsters.
To investigate the effects of dietary fatty acids on acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) and cytosolic cholesteryl ester hydrolase (cCEH), male Syrian hamsters (F(1)B hybrid) were fed a modified version of the NIH-07 open formula, cereal-based rodent diet enriched with one of the following 4 dietary fatty acids: palmitic acid (16:0), trans fatty acids (18:1t), oleic acid (18:1c), or linoleic acid (18:2). Hamsters fed 16:0 and 18:1t had significantly higher plasma non-HDL cholesterol concentrations compared with those fed 18:1c and 18:2. However, differences in plasma apolipoprotein (apo)B(100) concentration, hepatic cCEH mRNA abundance, and hepatic ACAT activity between 16:0- and 18:1t-fed hamsters suggest that the hypercholesterolemic effects are achieved by different mechanisms. Specifically, an increase in ACAT activity by 16:0 may induce enrichment of cholesteryl esters in apoB(100)-containing particles, whereas 18:1t may increase the number of the particles. Hepatic cholesteryl esters accumulated in the 18:1c- and 18:2-fed groups with no differences in hepatic ACAT activity and cCEH mRNA abundance among hamsters fed unsaturated fatty acids (i.e., 18:1t, 18:1c, and 18:2). Considering the lack of change in free cholesterol concentration and increased cholesteryl esters in the liver, the hypocholesterolemic effect of 18:1c and 18:2 compared with 18:1t may be attributed to decreased production of apoB(100)-containing particles. ACAT-1 was expressed in all the tissues examined; in contrast, ACAT-2 was highly expressed in the liver and small intestine. Hepatic ACAT activity was disproportionate to the levels of ACAT-1 and ACAT-2 mRNA and protein, indicating post-transcriptional regulation of ACAT by dietary fatty acids. The data suggest that cholesterolemic effects of individual dietary fatty acids can be achieved through their independent modulation of pathways regulating assembly and secretion of apoB(100)-containing particles.
Animals↗
A glucomannan and chitosan fiber supplement decreases plasma cholesterol and increases cholesterol excretion in overweight normocholesterolemic humans.
OBJECTIVE: Both chitosan and glucomannan have demonstrated hypocholesterolemic effects. A recent study in rats indicates that the combination of the two is also a potent hypocholesterolemic agent that increases fecal fat excretion. The objective of the present study was to determine the hypocholesterolemic effect of a supplement containing equal amounts of chitosan and glucomannan on blood lipid concentrations and fecal excretion of fat, neutral sterols and bile acids. METHODS: Twenty-one overweight normocholesterolemic subjects (11 males and 10 females) were fed 2.4 g/day of a supplement containing equal amounts of chitosan and glucomannan. Prior to taking the supplement (initial period) and after 28 days (final period), blood was drawn for measurement of serum lipids and a three-day fecal sample collected for determination of fat, neutral sterol and bile acid excretion. Subjects maintained their normal dietary and activity patterns during the study. RESULTS: Caloric intake and intake of fat and dietary fiber (excluding the supplement) did not differ between the initial and final periods. Serum total, HDL and LDL cholesterol concentrations were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the final period compared to the initial period. Serum triacylglycerol concentration did not change between periods. There was a trend towards greater fecal excretion of neutral sterols and bile acids (p = 0.13 and 0.16, respectively) in the final period. However, fecal fat excretion did not differ between periods. CONCLUSIONS: Serum cholesterol reduction by a chitosan/glucomannan supplement is likely mediated by increased fecal steroid excretion and is not linked to fat excretion.
Adolescent↗
Dietary stearic acid alters gallbladder bile acid composition in hamsters fed cereal-based diets.
Dietary stearic acid (18:0) lowers plasma and liver cholesterol concentration by reducing intestinal cholesterol absorption. We tested the hypothesis that dietary 18:0 reduces cholesterol absorption by altering hepatic bile acid synthesis and gallbladder bile acid composition. Male Syrian hamsters were fed modified NIH-07 open formula diets, enriched (5 g/100 g diet) in one of the following fatty acids: 18:0, palmitic acid (16:0), trans fatty acids (18:1t), oleic acid (18:1c) or linoleic acid (18:2). After 18 wk, gallbladders were removed and bile acid composition determined by HPLC. The distribution of primary bile acids (mol/100 mol) was unaffected by treatment. In contrast, dietary 18:0 significantly reduced the proportion of hydrophobic secondary bile acids, resulting in a lower hydrophobicity index of the bile. These data suggest that reduced cholesterol absorption by dietary 18:0 is due, at least in part, to reduced cholesterol solubility. The data further suggest that 18:0 may have altered the microflora populations that synthesize secondary bile acids. Although cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) activity was significantly higher in hamsters fed 18:0 compared with 16:0, this finding is most likely due to increased fecal bile acid output in the 18:0 group rather than transcriptional regulation of CYP7A1 by 18:0 or specific bile acids.
Animals↗