We fed cholesterol-enriched (1% cholesterol and 0.2% cholic acid) semipurified diets containing either 3% cellulose or psyllium to 2 groups of female Wistar rats for a period of 8 weeks. The feeding of the cholesterol-enriched semipurified diets resulted in a progressive increase in plasma cholesterol levels in both groups during the 8 weeks of the experiment. The rats fed psyllium, however, had significantly lower plasma cholesterol concentrations than the animals fed cellulose throughout the experimental period (at 8 weeks, 8.92 ± 4.42 and 16.47 ± 8 mmol/l, respectively, means ± SD, n = 14, p < 0.01). Most of the plasma cholesterol in both groups at the end of the study was located in the very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) fraction (91%) and differences in total plasma cholesterol concentrations were predominantly reflected in differences in VLDL cholesterol. Plasma triglyceride concentrations were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Liver cholesterol concentrations paralleled the concentrations of plasma cholesterol and were significantly lower (p < 0.001) in the psyllium-fed rats (90.31 ± 13.81 µmol/g liver) than in the cellulose-fed rats (60.49 ± 15.25 µmol/g liver). Substitution of psyllium for cellulose resulted in an increase in the excretion of fecal bile acids by 26%, and this increase was predominantly caused by an increased excretion of β-muricholic acid and the bile acids derived from β-muricholic acid (ω-muricholic acid and hyodeoxycholic acid).

Keywords:
Psyllium, Lipoproteins, Cholesterol, Fecal sterols
This content is only available via PDF.
© 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel
2000
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.