Abstract

In this study, we searched the hypolipidemic effects of a dietary fiber in hyperlipidemic and normal rats. Rats were fed with high-fat diet (HFD) or a normal fed diet (NFD) for 12-weeks and then treated with 5, 10 and 20% guar gum in their regime for 28 days. Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were significantly increased in HFD rats, while administration of guar gum significantly lowered them. Serum high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) was reduced in HFD rats. However, feeding the HFD rats with guar gum markedly elevated HDL-C level.  Of the different tested percentage of guar gum in their regimes, 20% guar gum showed the strongest hypolipidemic effect, as well as a high anti atherogenic potential with atherogenic index (A.I.)These results suggested that guar gum may be effective hypolipiedemic agent and may prevent hyperlipidemic atherosclerosis in both hyperlipidemic and normal rats.  

Key word: Dietary fiber, guar gum, hyperlipidemic, lipid profile, rat.

Abbreviation

A.I, Atherogenic index; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol; HFD, high-fat diet; LDL-C, low -density lipoprotein cholesterol; NFD, normal fed diet; TC, total cholesterol; TG, triglyceride.