The effect of octadecylamide of alginic acid on serum and hepatic cholesterol, and the faecal output of fat and sterols was examined in female rats fed diets containing cholesterol and palm fat at 10 and 50 g kg-1, respectively. Cholesterol supplementation significantly increased serum and hepatic cholesterol concentrations, and faecal output of cholesterol and coprostanol. Cholesterol and amidated alginate supplementations changed the profile of fatty acids in the faeces. Cholesterol increased molar percentages of saturated fatty acids and amidated alginate reversed this effect. Amidated alginate, supplied at 10, 20 and 40 g kg-1, significantly decreased serum cholesterol from 2.82 to 2.00, 1.95, and 1.63 μmol mL-1, respectively, and significantly decreased hepatic cholesterol from 13.8 to 9.33, 7.81 and 6.3 μmol g-1, respectively. Amidated alginate increased the faecal output of fat and neutral sterols in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, the output of bile acids was significantly decreased. The faecal outputs of fat and serum cholesterol were negatively correlated. At the highest concentration tested, amidated alginate significantly reduced the serum concentration of triacylglycerols. It can be concluded that amidated alginate is an effective cholesterol-lowering agent and sorbent of dietary fat.
Keywords: Amidated alginate; Faeces; Fatty acids; Liver; Rats; Serum lipids.
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