Evidence for the absence of participation of the microbial flora in the hypocholesterolemic effect of guar gum in gnotobiotic rats.
Germ-free (GF) and heteroxenic (Hx) rats were given a hypocholesterolemic diet (Hyper) with or without 5% guar gum (GG) for 4 weeks. The GF and Hx rats fed GG diets showed a lower hepatic and plasmatic cholesterol level when compared with Hyper groups. This reduction of cholesterolemia was due to a decrease in the chylomicron + very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) fraction. The caecal and portal concentrations of propionate were 30% higher in Hx rats fed the GG diet than in Hx rats fed the Hyper diet. These results exclude the participation of the intestinal microflora in the hypocholesterolemic effect of GG, and show that guar gum nullifies the effect of the hypocholesterolemic diet in the GF rats.
Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
J I
JI
Alvarez-Leite
C
C
Andrieux
J
J
Forezou
M
M
Riottot
E C
EC
Vieira
D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005260:Female; D005685:Galactans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000178:diet therapy*; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008351:Mannans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053149:Plant Gums; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344
D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005685:Galactans; D008351:Mannans; D053149:Plant Gums; D002784:Cholesterol; C007894:guar gum