Phytosterols, but not pectin, added to a high-saturated-fat diet modify saturated fatty acid excretion in relation to chain length

J Nutr Biochem. 2007 Sep;18(9):580-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2006.10.003. Epub 2006 Dec 4.

Abstract

The main objective of this article was to study how the excretion of saturated fatty acids (SFA) is modified after the consumption of a high-saturated-fat diet that was supplemented with phytosterol and pectin. We present the results of a longitudinal 4-week study on guinea pigs. Diets were supplemented with 0.33% of cholesterol and differed in the content of pectin (three levels) and of phytosterols (three levels). Seventy-two female Dunkin Hartley guinea pigs were randomly assigned to the treatment groups (8 animals/group). Addition of phytosterol resulted in a decrease of lauric (12:0) and myristic (14:0) excretions and in an increase of arachidic (20:0) and behenic (22:0) excretions. Palmitic (16:0) and stearic (18:0) acids did not show a clear change after phytosterol supplementation. Addition of pectin resulted in a decreased excretion of all SFA, although this was not significant. These results suggest that phytosterols added to a high-saturated-fat diet enhance the absorption of the most atherogenic fatty acids (lauric and myristic) after 1 week of treatment, as compared with the high-saturated-fat diet alone.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dietary Fats / administration & dosage*
  • Dietary Fats / metabolism*
  • Fatty Acids / administration & dosage*
  • Fatty Acids / analysis
  • Female
  • Guinea Pigs
  • Pectins / administration & dosage*
  • Pectins / metabolism
  • Phytosterols / administration & dosage*
  • Phytosterols / metabolism
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Dietary Fats
  • Fatty Acids
  • Phytosterols
  • Pectins