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Hypocholesterolemic Effect of Polysaccharides and Polysaccharide-rich Foodstuffs in Cholesterol-fed Rats¹

Department of Nutrition, School of Medicine, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan

The hypocholesterolemic effect of cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl-cellulose (CMC), pectin, alginic acid (free), agar-agar, gum arabic, konnyaku powder (prepared from the tubers of Amorphophalus konjac), konbu (Laminaria japonica), hijiki (Hijikia fusiformis) and aonori (Enteromorpha prolifera) was examined in rats fed hypercholesterolemic diets. The hypocholesterolemic effect was reconfirmed for pectin and a new demonstration of the plasma- and liver cholesterol-depressing activity was achieved for CMC and konnyaku powder. Absorption of cholesterol was significantly depressed in rats fed pectin and konnyaku powder, but rats fed CMC showed no alteration in cholesterol absorption as compared with the control group. The activity of konnyaku powder which is known to be hydrolyzed by intestinal microorganisms did not increase by the combined administration of antibiotics. From these facts, it appears that the mechanisms depressing plasma cholesterol differ appreciably in these three substances.

Manuscript received 29 July 1968.