Abstract
This study evaluates the effect of the lipid profile on serum, liver and faeces, and the potential prebiotic effect of diets supplemented with enzymatically treated okara (okaraET) in high-cholesterol fed Wistar rats. Triglyceride levels were significantly reduced in the serum (p < 0.01) and liver (p < 0.01) of okaraET treated rats. Total lipids, triglycerides and bile acids were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in the faeces of rats fed the okaraET diet. The pH of faecal contents from treated okaraET rats was lower (p < 0.001), probably due to the significantly higher (p < 0.001) production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). OkaraET, therefore, reduced triglycerides in serum and liver, and increased the excretion of total lipids, triglycerides and bile acids, improving the lipid profile in rats fed with high-cholesterol diets. OkaraET fibre can improve intestinal transit by increasing faecal bulk. The decreased pH and increased SCFA production indicated that okaraET fibre fermentation occurred, suggesting a potential prebiotic effect.
Acknowledgements
All applicable international, national and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. All procedures performed in studies involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institution or practise at which the studies were conducted.
Disclosure statement
All authors have no conflict of interest to report regarding the work presented in this manuscript.
Funding information
This research was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology (Spain), Project AGL 2005-02447 and by Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Project GR3/14.