title: Effects of Taiwanese yam (Dioscorea japonica Thunb var. pseudojaponica Yamamoto) on upper gut function and lipid metabolism in Balb/c mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the effects of a Taiwanese yam, Dioscorea japonica Thunb var. pseudojaponica Yamamoto, on upper gut function and lipid metabolism in adult Balb/c mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice were randomly allocated to consume the control, 25%, or 50% yam diet in which yam in an uncooked lyophilized form was incorporated into the diet for 21 d.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Growth rates were similar among groups, even though the apparent protein absorption rate was decreased by the 50% yam diet. Both yam diets decreased gastric villous width but did not significantly modulate other morphologic and proliferative indices. Brush-border leucine aminopeptidase activities in the small intestine were increased approximately 30% by the 25% and 50% yam diets, respectively. In contrast, sucrase activity was decreased 40% by the 25% yam diet and 50% by the 50% yam diet. The 50% yam diet consistently improved the cholesterol profile in the plasma and liver, whereas the 25% yam diet reduced only the level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in plasma. Changes in blood lipid levels were associated with reduced fat absorption.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A 25% uncooked yam diet may benefit upper gut function and prevent hypercholesterolemia in humans, but the 50% yam diet negatively affected protein absorption.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutritional Science, School of Nutrition, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, People's Republic of China. hlchen@csmu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Hsiao- Ling
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Cheng- Hsin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chen -Tien
authors.initials: C-
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Tse- Cheng
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000626:Aminopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002455:Cell Division; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D027742:Dioscorea / Q000737:chemistry; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000166:cytology; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000201:enzymology; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008871:Microvilli / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size; D011897:Random Allocation; D013393:Sucrase / Q000378:metabolism; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D002784:Cholesterol; D013393:Sucrase; D000626:Aminopeptidases