• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.67-80
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• 2017

Cholesterol is a vital component of the human body. It stabilizes cell membranes and is the precursor of bile acids, vitamin D and steroid hormones. However, cholesterol accumulation in the bloodstream (hypercholesterolemia) can cause atherosclerotic plaques within artery walls, leading to heart attacks and strokes. The efficiency of cholesterol absorption in the small intestine is of great interest because human and animal studies have linked cholesterol absorption with plasma concentration of total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol. Cholesterol absorption is highly regulated and influenced by particular compounds in the food supply. Therefore, it is desirable to learn more about natural food components that inhibit cholesterol absorption so that food ingredients and dietary supplements can be developed for consumers who wish to manage their plasma cholesterol levels by non-pharmacological means. Food components thus far identified as inhibitors of cholesterol absorption include phytosterols, soluble fibers, phospholipids, and stearic acid.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.295-301
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• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Consumption of cholesterol-rich foods, such as eggs, has a minimal effect on circulating cholesterol levels in healthy humans. To gain insight, we investigated whether phospholipids rich in eggs (EPL) interfere with intestinal cholesterol absorption in vivo. MATERIALS/METHODS: To investigate the acute effect of EPL on intestinal cholesterol absorption, male C57BL/6J mice were orally administered with 6, 11, or 19 mg of EPL for three days. We also tested the effect of chronic EPL consumption on cholesterol metabolism in the small intestine and the liver in mice with diet-induced hypercholesterolemia. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a high fat/high cholesterol (HF/HC; 35% fat, 0.25% cholesterol, w/w) diet for 4 weeks to induce hypercholesterolemia, and subsequently the mice were either fed 0, 0.4 or 0.8% (w/w) of EPL for 6 weeks. RESULTS: Intestinal cholesterol absorption was significantly decreased by the highest dose of acute EPL administration compared to control. Chronic EPL supplementation did not significantly alter intestinal cholesterol absorption nor plasma levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. In the small intestine and the liver, EPL supplementation minimally altered the expression of genes which regulate cellular cholesterol levels. CONCLUSION: Although chronic EPL consumption was not able to counteract hypercholesterolemia in HF/HC-fed mice, acute EPL administration decreased intestinal cholesterol absorption. This study provides in vivo evidence that acute administration of PLs in eggs prevent cholesterol absorption in the intestine, suggesting a mechanism for a minimal effect of egg consumption on circulating cholesterol levels.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.47-52
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• 2004

This study was conducted to determine the effects of egg phospholipids [(Phosphatidylcholine (PC) and sphingomyelin (SM)] on intestinal absorption of cholesterol and other lipids. Each rat with Iymph cannula was infused via a duodenal catheter at 3.0 mL/h for 8 h with a lipid emulsion containing triolein, cholesterol and PC in 24 mL PBS. The PC in the lipid emulsion was egg PC (EPC), hydrogenated egg PC (HPC), or soy PC (SPC). The EPC in the lipid emulsion markedly lowered the Iymphatic absorption of cholesterol, compared with SPC and a lipid emulsion containing no PC. The HPC further lowered the absorption of cholesterol. The phospholipid output was not affected by the source of PC infused. The total Iymphatic output of oleic acid (18: 1), the major fatty acid infused in the form of triolein, did not differ among the NPC, SPC and EPC groups, but was significantly lower in the HPC group. The findings provide the first evidence that EPC markedly lowers the Iymphatic absorption of cholesterol under in vivo conditions. The inhibitory effect of EPC appears to be due to the higher degree of saturation of its acyl groups relative to SPC, suggesting that the intestinal absorption of egg cholesterol may be reduced by the presence of PC in e99 yolk. Experiment 2 was designed to determine whether egg SM, structurally similar to PC, also inhibits the Iymphatic absorption of cholesterol. Egg SM lowered the Lymphatic absorption of cholesterol in a dose dependent manner. Likewise, SM lowered the Iymphatic absorption of oleic acid, whereas it had no effect on retinol absorption. SM at a high dose lowered the Iymphatic outputs of both PC and SM, whereas there was no such effect at a lower dose. These results also indicate that luminal egg SM has an inhibitory effect on the intestinal absorption of cholesterol and other lipids of relatively high hydrophobicity.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2003

Catechins exhibit a hypocholesterolemic effect in cholesterol-fed animals. The present study was conducted to examine whether (+)-catechin influences the absorption of cholesterol in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed ad libitum an AIN-93G diet containing soybean oil for 5 wk. Rats with lymph cannulae were infused at 3.0 mL/h for 8 h via a duodenal catheter with a lipid emulsion containing radiolabeled cholesterol with or without (+)-catechin. Lymph was collected hourly for 8 h. The enteral infusion of (+)-catechin significantly lowered the lymphatic absorption of $^{14}$ C-cholesterol (21.1 $\pm$ 3.6% dose/B h) compared with controls infused with the lipid emulsion devoid of (+)-catechin (38.2 $\pm$ 1.2% dose/8 h). The intestinal absorption of $\alpha$-tocopherol (24.2$\pm$3.0% dose/8 h) also was significantly decreased by (+)-catechin infusion, relative to controls (32.2$\pm$2.2% dose/8 h). However, the lymphatic outputs of oleic acid and phospholipid were not affected by enteral (+)-catechin infusion. The results indicate that (+)-catechin has a profound inhibitory effect on the intestinal absorption of cholesterol and $\alpha$-tocopherol without affecting the absorption of fat.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.141-149
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• 2001

This study done to investigate the hypocholesterolemic effect of ow dietary fiber in a high cholesterol diet in aspect of cholesterol absorption and excretion using Sprague Dawley rats. After feeding diets containing 0.5% cholesterol and 5% tangerine pulp, sea tangle or prickly pear cactus for four weeks, we measured the levels of plasma and liver cholesterol and triglyceride, fecal neutral sterols and fecal radioactivity after ingestion 14(sup)C-cholesterol. We also examined platelet aggregation and histological change in liver tissues in association of hypercholesterolemia. The liver to body weight ratio was significantly(p<0.01) lower in rats fed prickly pear cactus than in other groups. The levels of plasma total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride were decreased significantly(p<0.01) in the prickly pear cactus group compared with the control, while there was no difference in the liver levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride among groups. Fecal corprostanol and cholesterol were significantly(p<0.01) higher groups of control and prickly pear cactus compared to the other two groups. Radioisotope excretion after ingestion of 14(sup)C-cholesterol was higher in the control group than in tangerine pulp group or sea tangle group, with the highest in prickly pear group. Radioisotope excretion was the highest during the 2nd and 3rd days in all groups. Hematocrit and platelet aggregation were decreased in all fiber groups compared to the control, but not statistically different. Microscopic examination showed that cholesterol diet cause a fat accumulation in the liver and prickly pear cactus decreased the fat accumulation. Result indicates that prickly pear cactus has hypocholesterolemic effect by decreasing absorption and increasing excretion of cholesterol, thereby protective effect on fatty liver. Control group fed diet containing high cholesterol and low fiber seems to have a self control system in cholesterol absorption and excretion preventing hypercholesterolemia. (Korean J Nutrition 34(2) : 141-149, 2001)

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.232-239
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• 1985

The effects of total saponin, triol and diol saponin, and prosapogenin of ginseng on the absorption of cholesterol and the component of serum lipids was observed as a function of time using isotopic method. The following results were obtained. 1) Labelled cholesterol absorption was observed to be enhanced after adminstrations of total saponin, triol saponin, and. prosapogenin of ginseng to rat (Sprague Dawley). 2) Decreases in the amount of serum lipid were observed after administration of total saponin and prosapogenin of ginseng.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.12
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• pp.1712-1717
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• 2009

Capsaicin has been shown to affect lipid metabolism. However, it is currently not known whether capsaicin would lower the intestinal absorption of cholesterol. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of intraduodenally infused capsaicin on the lymphatic absorption of cholesterol and lipids in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 300-350 g were starved for 16 hr and the mesenteric lymph duct was cannulated. Each rat was infused at 3.0 mL/hr for 8 hr via the duodenal catheter with a lipid emulsion, which contained 33.3 kBq [$^{14}C$]-cholesterol, 20.7 μmol cholesterol, 452 μmol triolein, 3.1 μmol $\alpha$-tocopherol, and 396.0 μmol Na-taurocholate without (control) or with 5.0 mg capsaicin in 24 mL PBS buffer (pH 6.4). Simultaneously, lymph was collected hourly for 8 hr. There was no significant difference in lymph flow between the groups. However, the lymphatic absorption of 14C-cholesterol for 8 hr was significantly lower in rats infused with capsaicin than in those infused with no capsaicin. Also, the output of oleic acid for 8 hr was significantly decreased by capsaicin. However, the intestinal absorption of $\alpha$-tocopherol did not differ between the groups. The results indicate that the luminal infusion of capsaicin inhibits the intestinal absorption of cholesterol and lipids in rats.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.296-304
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• 1998

The effects of common Korean dietary fiber-rich foods(dried sea mustard, Lentinus edodes and Korean radish leaves) on total gut transit time of diet, serum cholesterol level and mineral apparent absorption ration and tissue level were investigated. Twenty eight male were divided into 4 groups and were fed a control diet(containing 2% cellulose) and three fiber supplementary diet mixed with 10% of the above dietary fiber rich foods for 4 weeks, respectively. Body weight gain and food efficiency ration were not affected by the supplementary diet of fiber but the total gut transit time of diet was shortened in all dietary fiber groups. The Lentinus edodes reduced significantly serum total cholesterol and increased the HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio at 4th week without and effect on calcium and iron apparent absorptions and tissue levels of the minerals. Radish leaves decreased significantly iron apparent absorption ration with a tendency to increase iron retention in spleen and did not alter serum cholesterol level. Serum cholesterol concentration and calcium and iron apparent absorptions were not significantly altered by the ingestion of sea mustard, while it had more soluble dietary fiber than mushroom and radish leaves.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.783-788
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• 2016

Excessive intake of trans fats is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Previously, we showed that green tea extract lowers intestinal absorption of cholesterol and elaidic acid in rats. This study was conducted to investigate a possible role for sorghum extract on lymphatic absorption of trans fat and cholesterol in rats. Adult male rats with lymph cannulae were infused at a rate of 3.0 mL/h for 8 h via a duodenal catheter with a lipid emulsion containing $146.4{\mu}mol$ of trielaidin, $36.8{\mu}mol$ of trilinoelaidin, $452.0{\mu}mol$ of triolein, $1.0{\mu}Ci$ cholesterol labeled with $^{14}C$ ($^{14}C-cholesterol$), $20.7{\mu}mol$ of cholesterol, and $396.0{\mu}mol$ of Na-taurocholate without or with 100.0 mg of sorghum extract in phosphate-buffered saline buffer (pH 6.4). Lymph was collected hourly for 8 h. No significant difference was noted in lymph flow. However, the lymphatic absorption of elaidic acid and linoelaidic acid for 8 h was significantly lower in rats infused with sorghum extract than in those infused with no sorghum extract. Further, lymphatic absorption of $^{14}C-cholesterol$ was reduced by sorghum extract, which was observed previously. These data indicate that sorghum extract has an inhibitory effect on the intestinal absorption of trans fat and cholesterol. The mechanism(s) by which sorghum extract lowers intestinal absorption of trans fat warrants further study.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.655-662
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• 2007

This study examined the effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 43121 (LAB) on cholesterol metabolism in hypercholesterolemia-induced rats. Four treatment groups of rats (n=9) were fed experimental diets: normal diet, normal $diet+LAB(2{\times}10^6\;CFU/day)$, hypercholesterol diet (0.5% cholesterol, w/w), and hypercholesterol diet+LAB. Body weight, feed intake, and feed efficiency did not differ among the four groups. Supplementation with LAB reduced total serum cholesterol (25%) and VLDL+IDL+LDL cholesterol (42%) in hypercholesterol diet groups, although hepatic tissue cholesterol and lipid contents were not changed. In the normal diet group, cholesterol synthesis (HMG-CoA reductase expression), absorption (LDL receptor expression), and excretion via bile acids (cholesterol $7{\alpha}-hydroxylase$ expression) were increased by supplementation with LAB, and increased cholesterol absorption and decreased excretion were found in the hypercholesterol diet group. Total fecal acid sterols excretion was increased by supplementation with LAB. With proportional changes in both normal and hypercholesterol diet groups, primary bile acids (cholic and chenodeoxycholic acids) were reduced, and secondary bile acids (deoxycholic and lithocholic acids) were increased. Fecal neutral sterol excretion was not changed by LAB. In this experiment, the increase in insoluble bile acid (lithocholic acid) reduced blood cholesterol level in rats fed hypercholesterol diets supplemented with LAB. Thus, in the rat, L. acidophilus ATCC 43121 is more likely to affect deconjugation and dehydroxylation during cholesterol metabolism than the assimilation of cholesterol into cell membranes.