The hypocholesterolaemic effects of pectins in rats

Abstract

1. The hypocholesterolaemic effects of pectins were studied in a series of five experiments in weanling Sprague-Dawley rats.2. Expt A examined the effects of differing levels of dietary fat on plasma and liver lipids. Rats were given diets containing 100 g pectin, National Formulary (NF)/kg, and either 50,100, 150 or 200 g oil/kg. All diets contained 10 g cholesterol/kg. Plasma cholesterol levels were lower in all pectin-fed groups compared with rats given the control diet containing 100 g Solkafloc and 100 g oil/kg. Liver lipid and cholesterol levels increased with increasing fat content of the diet, reaching a plateau at 150 g fat/kg diet, but were still significantly lower in all pectin-fed groups compared with the control group.3. Expt B. The effects of molecular weight and degree of methoxylation of pectins were studied in five groups of rats given either a control diet containing 100 g Solkafloc/kg or high molecular weight, high methoxyl pectin (HMW HMP); high molecular weight, low methoxyl pectin (HMW LMP); low molecular weight, high methoxyl pectin (LMW HMP); low molecular weight, low methoxyl pectin (LMW LMP). All diets in this and subsequent experiments contained 100 g fat and 10 g cholesterol/kg. Plasma cholesterol levels were significantly lower than control values only in the HMW HMP group. Compared with controls, animals given HMW pectins had lower levels of liver lipid and liver cholesterol; on the LMW HMP diet the liver cholesterol, but not the liver lipid, was lower.4. Expt C. An attempt was made to clarify the possible effect of degree of methoxylation by feeding diets containing either 100 g Solkafloc/kg,100 g pectin NF/kg or 100 g very high methoxyl pectin/kg.Plasma cholesterol levels were significantly reduced by both pectins but there was no difference in effect between the two. Both had similar viscosities suggesting that this is a more important factor than methoxyl content.5. Expts D and E. Effects of dose on hypocholesterolaemic effects of HMP and LMP were studied. Diets containing 50 or 100 g Solkafloc, HMP or LMP/kg were given in Expt D, and 25 g Solkafloc or HMP/kg, 50 g Solkafloc, HMP or LMP/kg and 100 g Solkafloc or LMP/kg in Expt E. Plasma cholesterol levels were significantly reduced in groups given 50 or 100 g HMP/kg and in groups given 100 g LMP/kg.6.HMP were found to be more effective at lowering plasma cholesterol levels than LMP. LMW pectins were not effective. This suggests that the hypocholesterolaemic effects are at least partly due to viscosity.7. Gut length and weight was increased in pectin-fed animals compared with controls despite their lower body-weight. The weight of small intestinal contents at death was also greater in pectin-fed rats (Expts A and B), particularly in the distal small intestine.