Original Paper

Effects of Psyllium on Plasma Total and Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Hepatic Cholesterol in Hamsters Fed n-3 PUFA or n-6 PUFA with High Cholesterol Levels
Young-Chau Liu^a, Shyun-Yeu Liu^b, Mei-Huei Lin<sup>c

a</sup>College of Liberal Education, Shu-Te University, Kaohsiung County,
^bOral and Maxillofacial Surgery Section, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, and
^cDepartment of Biotechnology, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC

Address of Corresponding Author

Ann Nutr Metab 2004;48:374-380 (DOI: 10.1159/000082250)

  Key Words

• Psyllium
• n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids
• n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids
• Very-low-density lipoprotein
• Low-density lipoprotein
• High-density lipoprotein

  Abstract

This study was conducted to determine whether psyllium is known to alter cholesterol metabolism modulate the hypercholesterolemic effect of a high cholesterol, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) diet in hamsters. Concentrations of plasma, hepatic total cholesterol and lipoprotein cholesterol were measured in male hamsters fed an n-3 PUFA plus psyllium (8%, wt/wt) diet combined with variable levels of cholesterol (0, 0.05, 0.1%, wt/wt) or a cholesterol-enriched (0.2%, wt/wt) n-3 PUFA or n-6 PUFA diet that contained either 8% methyl cellulose or psyllium for 4 weeks. In the n-3 PUFA-fed hamsters, we have found that psyllium was able to reduce plasma total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol significantly when 0.1% cholesterol was added to the diet. In contrast, the effects of psyllium were not seen in the n-3 PUFA-fed hamsters without dietary cholesterol or with 0.05% dietary cholesterol. However, no matter in the presence of psyllium or not, the increase of plasma total cholesterol, very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol levels was depend on the content of dietary cholesterol. Although the cholesterol diet increased the liver total cholesterol level, 80 g psyllium/kg diet resulted in a significantly lower concentration of liver total cholesterol in the cholesterol-fed hamsters. In the second experiment, we have also found that psyllium feeding lowered significantly plasma total cholesterol and VLDL-cholesterol concentrations in hamsters fed n-3 PUFA but not in those fed n-6 PUFA. However, the levels of plasma total cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels of the (n-6) PUFA-fed hamsters were significantly lower than those in the (n-3) PUFA-fed hamsters in the absence or presence of dietary psyllium. Our data also showed that hamsters fed both high-cholesterol n-3 PUFA and n-6 PUFA diets had a significant decrease in hepatic cholesterol with intake of psyllium. Liver total cholesterol concentrations were significantly lower in n-3 PUFA-fed hamsters compared with the n-6 PUFA-fed groups. Therefore, these data may contribute to understanding the interactive effect of psyllium and cholesterol or the type of fat on plasma and liver cholesterol in hamsters.

Copyright © 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Dr. Mei-Huei Lin
60, Erh-Jen Road, Section 1, 717 Jen-Te
Tainan, Taiwan (ROC)
Tel. +886 6 266 4911, ext. 520, Fax +886 6 290 9635
E-Mail mhlin3224@mail.chna.edu.tw

  Article Information

Received: March 10, 2004
Accepted: September 22, 2004
Published online: November 22, 2004
Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 6, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 36