Mechanism for the cholesterol-lowering action of egg white protein in rats.
Eggs are a popular source of dietary cholesterol, but their consumption does not necessarily result in an increased serum cholesterol concentration. We investigated the cholesterol-lowering activity of egg white protein (EWP) and its potential mechanism in rats. The consumption of EWP resulted in a decreased concentration of cholesterol in the serum, liver and intestinal mucosa. The excretion of fecal neutral sterols and bile acids was greater by rats fed with EWP than by those fed with casein. The ratio of cholesterol and bile acids in the micellar phase to those in the solid phase was lower in the intestinal contents from rats fed with EWP than from those fed with casein. These results suggest that the cholesterol-lowering activity of EWP can be attributed to lowering the cholesterol absorption by intervening in the micellar formation in the intestines.
R&D Division, Q.P. Corporation, Sashima-gun, Ibaraki 306-0313, Japan. ryosuke matsuoka@kewpie.co.jp
Ryosuke
R
Matsuoka
Mamoru
M
Kimura
Ayano
A
Muto
Yasunobu
Y
Masuda
Masao
M
Sato
Katsumi
K
Imaizumi
D000818:Animals; D001710:Biotin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D003545:Cysteine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004527:Egg Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005243:Feces; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008823:Micelles; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D052616:Solid Phase Extraction
D004527:Egg Proteins; D008823:Micelles; D001710:Biotin; D002784:Cholesterol; D003545:Cysteine