A freshwater clam (Corbicula fluminea) extract improves cholesterol metabolism in rats fed on a high-cholesterol diet.
The effect of a freshwater clam (Corbicula fluminea) extract (FCE) on cholesterol metabolism in rats fed on a high-cholesterol diet was investigated. When rats were fed various amounts of FCE in addition to the high-cholesterol diet for 2 wk, the serum and hepatic cholesterol levels were gradually reduced in a dose-dependent manner, as compared with the control group. The excretion of neutral sterols and bile acids into the feces was increased by feeding FCE. Several phytosterols were detected in the feces of rats fed on the FCE-containing diet. In addition, substantial amounts of phytosterols were found in FCE. Cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) mRNA in the liver of the rats fed on the FCE-containing diets was higher than that of rats fed on the high-cholesterol diets without FCE. These results may suggest that enhanced cholesterol degradation and the excretion of neutral sterols and bile acids contributed to the hypocholesterolemic effect of FCE observed in the hypercholesterolemic rats fed on the high-cholesterol diet.
Sasaki Food Co., Ltd., Oita, Japan. t-chiji_sasaki@summit.gr.jp
Takeshi
T
Chijimatsu
Iwao
I
Tatsuguchi
Kazuaki
K
Abe
Hiroaki
H
Oda
Satoshi
S
Mochizuki
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000737:chemistry*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002457:Cell Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002790:Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005243:Feces; D005618:Fresh Water; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D002457:Cell Extracts; D002784:Cholesterol; C532838:CYP7A1 protein, rat; D002790:Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase