Soybean amplifies the hypohomocysteinemic effect of betaine and improves its hypercholesterolemic effect.

We examined whether soybean (SB) and soy protein isolate (SPI) can prevent the betaine-induced elevation of plasma cholesterol as well as maintain the betaine-induced reduction of plasma Hcy concentration. Rats were fed casein-, SB-, or SPI-based diet with or without betaine; SPI-based diet with betaine containing soybean fiber (SF) or soy lecithin (SL) or the combination of SF and SL. Plasma Hcy concentration was decreased by feeding betaine to rats fed the casein-, SB-, and SPI-based diets.

Hydroxypropylation of high-amylose maize starch changes digestion and fermentation-dependent parameters in rats.

It was examined whether the physiological effects of high-amylose maize starch (HAMS) are influenced by hydroxypropylation. Rats were fed one of the following three diets: an AIN-93-based diet with waxy maize starch (WMS) as a starch source, or this diet with 150 g of WMS replaced by either HAMS or hydroxypropylated HAMS (HP-HAMS). The activities of amylase in bile-pancreatic juice and sucrose, maltase and isomaltase of the jejunum and ileum were not affected by diet, but the digestibility of HAMS was decreased by hydroxypropylation.

Degradation of pectin in the caecum contributes to bioavailability of iron in rats.

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of pectin on Fe bioavailability in ileorectomised rats or caecectomised rats. In Expt 1, rats were divided into the following two groups: ileorectomised rats fed a fibre-free diet (FF diet) and ileorectomised rats fed a FF diet supplemented with 5 % (w/w) pectin (pectin diet). Apparent Fe absorption in ileorectomised rats fed the pectin diet was significantly lower compared with ileorectomised rats fed the FF diet.

Lipid metabolism of orchiectomised rats was affected by fructose ingestion and the amount of ingested fructose.

We examined whether lipid metabolism in orchiectomised (ORX) rats was affected by fructose ingestion and the amount of ingested fructose. Sucrose was used as a fructose source. Sham-operated and ORX rats were fed one of the following three diets for 28 d: a maize starch-based diet without sucrose (SU0), a diet by which half or all of maize starch was replaced by sucrose (SU50 or SU100).

Hypocholesterolaemic effect of water-insoluble fish protein from Alaska pollock in ovariectomised rats is not abolished by methionine addition.

The present study investigated whether the hypocholesterolaemic effect of water-insoluble fish protein (IFP) from Alaska pollock in ovariectomised (OVX) rats was affected by methionine (Met) addition. OVX rats (6 months old) were fed a cholesterol-free diet containing casein, IFP or IFP+Met as a protein source for 28 d. The ratio of Met:glycine was lower in the IFP and IFP+Met diets compared with the casein diet.

Iron bound to pectin is utilised by rats.

In the present in vitro study, the effects of pH and ionic strength on the release of iron from pectin and the ability of pectin to reduce ferric iron to ferrous iron were examined. The bioavailability of Fe bound to pectin was evaluated in rats. The amount of Fe released from pectin was at a maximum at pH 2·0 and decreased as the pH value increased.

Fast-twitch muscle hypertrophy partly induces lipid accumulation inhibition with Alaska pollack protein intake in rats.

Fish protein is a source of animal protein that is consumed worldwide. Although it has been reported that the intake of Alaska pollack protein (APP) reduces serum triglyceride and body fat accumulation in rats, the mechanisms underlying these effects are poorly understood. In the present study, we fed 5-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats a high-fat diet with APP or casein for 4 weeks.

Hydroxypropylated tapioca starch retards the development of insulin resistance in KKAy mice, a type 2 diabetes model, fed a high-fat diet.

The hypoglycemic and antidiabetic effect of hydroxypropyl tapioca starch (HPTS, degree of substitution = 0.180) was investigated in male KKAy mice. Mice were fed a purified high-fat (20%) diet without or with HPTS (5% or 10%) for 33 d.

The mechanism of the cholesterol-lowering effect of water-insoluble fish protein in ovariectomised rats.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether water-insoluble fish protein (IFP) from Alaska pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) prevents hypercholesterolaemia induced by ovarian hormone deficiency. Wistar female rats, aged 6 months, were subjected to sham-operation or ovariectomy, and fed a cholesterol-free diet containing casein or IPF as a protein source for 28 d. Body-weight gain and food intake increased in the ovariectomised rats as compared with the sham-operated rats.

The effect of high-amylose cornstarch on lipid metabolism in OVX rats is affected by fructose feeding.

We examined whether the effects of high-amylose cornstarch (HACS) on lipid metabolism in ovariectomized (OVX) rats were affected by high-fructose feeding. Sucrose (482 g/kg diet) was used as fructose source. OVX rats were fed one of the following four diets for 21 days: a sucrose-based or cornstarch-based cholesterol-free diet with or without HACS (150 g/kg diet).

Hypolipidaemic effect of maize starch with different amylose content in ovariectomized rats depends on intake amount of resistant starch.

The effect of amylose content on digestibility of starch in the small intestine and on the concentration of plasma lipid were studied in ileorectostomized rats and in ovariectomized rats, respectively. Seven kinds of starch with different amylose content (0, 27, 54, 62, 76, 79, 86 %) were used as test starch, which contained 0.4, 5.

Dietary soy isoflavone-aglycone lowers food intake in female rats with and without ovariectomy.

Objective: Estrogens downregulate eating behavior, and soy isoflavones are known to be estrogenic agents. We aimed to examine whether the estrogenic property of soy isoflavones can affect food intake and body weight.

Methods And Procedures: Seven-week-old male, female, and ovariectomized (OVX) Sprague-Dawley rats were given free access to a diet containing 100-300 mg total isoflavone/kg diet, or to a control diet, either with or without concurrent administration of estradiol by subcutaneous implantation.

Hypocholesterolemic effects of microbial protease-resistant fraction of Katsuobushi in ovariectomized rats depend on the both oil and undigested protein.

The purpose of this study was to examine which component in the microbial protease-resistant fraction of Katsuobushi (KBR), smoke-dried bonito, is hypocholesterolemic in ovariectomized rats (OVX-rats). KBR contains two major components: oil and protease-resistant protein. Oil extracted from KBR (EX) was rich in palmitic, oleic and docosahexaenoic acids.

Protease-resistant fraction of smoked, dried bonito alleviates atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice.

The effect of smoke-dried bonito undigested fraction remaining after microbial protease treatment (SDBR) on a spontaneously occurring mouse model of atopic dermatitis was studied in male 5-wk-old, NC/Nga mice. Smoke-dried bonito, Katsuobushi, is a traditional Japanese food. SDBR contains 2 major components: bonito oil and protease-undigested proteins.

Hypocholesterolemic effect of katsuobushi, smoke-dried bonito, prevents ovarian hormone deficiency-induced hypercholesterolemia.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether katsuobushi, smoked-dried bonito (KB), which is a traditional Japanese food, prevents ovarian hormone deficiency-induced hypercholesterolemia. In experiment 1, ovariectomized rats (OVX-rats) were fed a purified diet containing casein or KB. Compared with the casein diet, the KB diet reduced the plasma cholesterol concentration and apparent protein digestibility, and increased the fecal dry weight and fecal bile acid excretion.

Inhibitory effects of soy isoflavones on cardiovascular collagen accumulation in rats.

Oxidative stress is a major cause of cardiovascular tissue fibrosis. We evaluated the effects of daily doses of soy isoflavones, genistein and daidzein on cardiovascular tissue fibrosis in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) diabetic rats and Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) non-diabetic rats as a severe or mild oxidative stress model, respectively. Glucose and lipid metabolisms did not improve with genistein or daidzein treatment.

Dietary habits and nutrient intake in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Objective: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is one of the most important emerging health issues. Insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome play a central role in the pathogenesis of NASH. Intake of nutrients strongly affects insulin resistance, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and hepatic steatosis.

Lowering effect of an isoflavone-rich fermented soybean extract on the serum cholesterol concentrations in female rats, with or without ovariectomy, but not in male rats.

We examined the effect of administering an isoflavone-rich fermented soybean extract (FSBE) on the serum cholesterol concentrations in male rats and in intact and ovariectomized (OVX) female rats. Dietary FSBE decreased the serum cholesterol concentrations in intact female and OVX rats, but did not affect the concentrations in male rats. Dietary FSBE increased the hepatic total and esterified cholesterol contents in the intact female rats, but decreased them in the OVX rats.

Retrograded tapioca starch prevents ovarian hormone deficiency-induced hypercholesterolemia.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether retrograded tapioca starch (RS3-tapioca) prevents ovarian hormone deficiency-induced hypercholesterolemia. Six-month-old Wistar female rats were subjected to sham-operation or ovariectomy, and fed a cholesterol-free purified diet with or without RS3-tapioca (150 g/kg diet) instead of digestible cornstarch for 28 d. Body weight gain and food intake increased in ovariectomized rats (OVX-rats).

Difructose anhydride III does not contribute to body energy accumulation in rats.

We evaluated the body energy accumulation as fat and protein from ingestion of difructose anhydride III (DFAIII). Male Wistar rats were fed 0, 0.25, 0.

Lack of an inducible effect of dietary soy isoflavones on the mRNA abundance of hepatic cytochrome P-450 isozymes in rats.

Modulation of the activity and content of cytochrome P-450 (CYP) in hepatic microsomes may be important to human health since these enzymes activate and inactivate a wide range of xenobiotics and food components. Regulation of the inducibility of most CYPs involves transcriptional regulation and post-transcriptional mRNA stabilization. We examined in the present study the effect of dietary soy isoflavone (0-300 mg of isoflavone/kg of diet) on the mRNA abundance of rat hepatic CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP2B1/2, CYP2C11, CYP2E1, CYP3A1, CYP3A2 and CYP4A1 by quantitative competitive RT-PCR and real-time monitored RT-PCR.

Taurine prevents hypercholesterolemia in ovariectomized rats fed corn oil but not in those fed coconut oil.

We studied whether the type of dietary fatty acid influences the preventive effect of taurine on the ovarian hormone deficiency-induced increase in plasma cholesterol concentration in 6-mo-old ovariectomized rats. Rats were fed one of the following four diets for 28 d: purified diets based on corn oil, which is rich in linoleic acid, with or with out taurine (50 g/kg) or purified diets based on coconut oil, which is rich in lauric and myristic acids, with or without taurine. Body mass gain, food intake, liver weight and plasma apolipoprotein (apo) A-I, apo B, LDL and VLDL concentrations were not affected by the diets.

Evaluation of iron bioavailability from bonito dark muscle using anemic rats.

The bioavailability of iron from ferrous sulfate (FeII-S), heme iron prepared from hemoglobin (HIP), and bonito dark muscle (BDM) was assessed in anemic rats using a hemoglobin regeneration efficiency (HRE) method. Freeze-dried BDM (FD), boiled and freeze-dried BDM (B/FD), and boiled and smoke-dried BDM (B/SD) were used as BDM source. Rats were made anemic by feeding on an iron-deficient diet for 28 days.

Increase of bile acids synthesis and excretion caused by taurine administration prevents the ovariectomy-induced increase in cholesterol concentrations in the serum low-density lipoprotein fraction of Wistar rats.

We examined the effect of dietary taurine on the concentrations of serum cholesterol and apolipoprotein in lipoprotein fractions of Six-month-old ovariectomized, which were used as a model of hypercholesterolemia in postmenopausal woman, or sham operated rats. Taurine significantly reduced the serum total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations only in the ovariectomized rats. In contrast, taurine significantly lowered the serum apolipoprotein B concentration and serum very low-density lipoprotein-apolipoprotein E concentration only in the sham operated rats.

The hypocholesterolemic effect of high amylose cornstarch in rats is mediated by an enlarged bile acid pool and increased fecal bile acid excretion, not by cecal fermented products.

Sham-operated and cecectomized rats were fed for 21 d a cholesterol-free purified diet containing (200 g/kg) either normal cornstarch (CS) or high amylose cornstarch (HACS). In both types of rats, those fed the HACS diet had a significantly lower plasma total cholesterol concentration and a significantly larger intestinal bile acid pool than those fed the CS diet. In cecectomized rats, those fed the HACS diet had significantly lower plasma HDL and LDL cholesterol concentrations, a significantly greater fecal bile acid excretion and a significantly lower hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase mRNA concentration than those fed the CS diet.