Taurine ameliorates cholesterol metabolism by stimulating bile acid production in high-cholesterol-fed rats.

This study was designed to investigate the effects of dietary taurine on cholesterol metabolism in high-cholesterol-fed rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two dietary groups (n = 6 in each group): a high-cholesterol diet containing 0.5% cholesterol and 0.

Dietary soybean peptides containing a low-molecular fraction can lower serum and liver triglyceride levels in rats.

We investigated the effects of dietary soybean peptides, particularly low-molecular-weight peptides, on serum and hepatic concentrations of lipids in rats. Soybean protein isolate (SPI) was digested with protease to produce low-molecular-weight peptides (LD) or a mixture of high- and low-molecular-weight peptides (HLD). Rats were fed diets containing 20% casein, SPI, LD or HLD as a nitrogen source, with or without 0.

Effect of dietary blueberry (Vaccinium ashei Reade) leaves on serum and hepatic lipid levels in rats.

The serum and liver lipid-lowering effects of dietary freeze-dried blueberry leaf powder (BL) and its hydrothermal extract (BLHE) were examined in rats fed diets with or without cholesterol supplementation. Administration of 1% and 3% BL had no adverse effects on food intake or growth; however, relative liver weights were reduced in rats fed diets with and without dietary cholesterol. In the absence of dietary cholesterol, a dose-dependent reduction was evident.

Mechanisms underlying decreased hepatic triacylglycerol and cholesterol by dietary bitter melon extract in the rat.

In these studies, we focused on finding the mechanism(s) underlying the bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.) methanol fraction (MF)-dependent reduction in the concentration of hepatic triacylglycerol (TAG) and cholesterol in the rat. Rats were fed diets containing low (5 %) fat for 2 weeks (experiment 1), or low (5 %) and high (15 %) fat for a longer period of 8 weeks (experiment 2).

Dietary taurine reduces hepatic secretion of cholesteryl ester and enhances fatty acid oxidation in rats fed a high-cholesterol diet.

We investigated the fate of exogenous fatty acid in connection with decreased hepatic accumulation and secretion of cholesteryl esters in rats fed diets containing taurine. Providing taurine as 5% of the diet for 14 d significantly decreased concentrations of cholesterol, especially cholesteryl esters in both serum and liver. Ketone body production and incorporation of exogenous [1-(14)C]oleate into ketone bodies in liver perfusate were consistently higher during a 4-h perfusion period in taurine-fed rats than in control rats.

Prevention of neointima formation by taurine ingestion after carotid balloon injury.

The sulfur-containing amino acid, taurine, has been shown to ameliorate the vascular disorders. We examined the effects of taurine ingestion on intimal thickening following balloon injury. Balloon injury was induced in the left common carotid artery of Wistar rats.

Effects of dietary soybean peptides on hepatic production of ketone bodies and secretion of triglyceride by perfused rat liver.

Soybean protein isolate (SPI) was digested with protease to produce a peptides containing the low-molecular fraction (LD3) or a mixture of high- and low-molecular fractions (HD1). Rats were fed a diets containing SPI, LD3, or HD1 at a protein level equivalent to the 20% casein diet for 4 weeks. The serum triglyceride concentration was lower in rats fed SPI, LD3, and HD1 diets than in rats fed the casein diet, and the differences were significant for the cholesterol-enriched diet.

Dietary 5-campestenone (campest-5-en-3-one) enhances fatty acid oxidation in perfused rat liver.

The effect of dietary 5-campestenone (campest-5-en-3-one), a chemical modification product of a naturally-occurring plant sterol, campesterol, on lipid metabolism was examined using a rat liver perfusion system. Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing about 140 g were fed a diet supplemented with or without 0.2% 5-campestenone for 14 d.

The effects of bitter melon (Momordica charantia) extracts on serum and liver lipid parameters in hamsters fed cholesterol-free and cholesterol-enriched diets.

The hypolipidemic effect of dietary methanol fraction (BMMF) extracted from bitter melon (Koimidori variety), at the levels of 0.5% and 1.0%, was examined in male golden Syrian hamsters fed diets supplemented with and without cholesterol.

The effects of bitter melon (Momordica charantia) on serum and liver triglyceride levels in rats.

Effects of three different varieties (Koimidori, Powerful-Reishi, and Hyakunari) of bitter melon (Momordica charantia) and those of methanol fraction extract of Koimidori variety on serum and liver triglycerides were studied in rats. Feeding of diets containing either bitter melon or various fractions isolated by organic solvents caused no adverse effects on food intake or growth of rats. When the effect of three different varieties of bitter melon was compared, the Koimidori variety was found to be the most effective in lowering hepatic triglyceride levels as compared to the other two varieties, suggesting a variety-dependent difference in their activity.

Purification and characterization of laminaran hydrolases from Trichoderma viride.

At least three extracellular laminaran hydrolases which hydrolyzed laminaran (beta-1,3:1,6-glucan) from Eisenia bicyclis were secreted in wheat bran solid medium by Trichoderma viride U-1. These three enzymes, lam AI, AII, and B, were purified to electrophoretic homogeneity. Their molecular masses were estimated to be 70.

Combined effects of dietary conjugated linoleic acid and sesamin triacylglycerol and ketone body production in rat liver.

The effects of a combination of dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplemented with sesamin on hepatic ketogenesis and triacylglycerol secretion were compared using the livers of rats fed diets containing 1% CLA or linoleic acid (LA) in combination with 0.2% sesamin for 14 d, respectively. The feeding of CLA, as compared to LA, caused a significant reduction in the weight of perirenal adipose tissue but not that of epididymal adipose tissue, and affected neither growth parameters nor hepatic lipid concentration.

Effect of taurine on cholesterol metabolism in hamsters: up-regulation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor by taurine.

The effects of taurine on hepatic cholesterol metabolism were investigated in hamsters fed a high-fat diet or normal chow. Two weeks-treatment of taurine at 1% in drinking water prevented high-fat diet-induced increase in cholesterol levels of serum and liver. The decrease in serum cholesterol by taurine was due to decrease in non-HDL cholesterols.