High-cholesterol Diets Induce Changes in Lipid Composition of Rat Erythrocyte Membrane Including Decrease in Cholesterol, Increase in α-Tocopherol and Changes in Fatty Acids of Phospholipids

Shiro MAWATARI; Yasushi OHNISHI; Yoshikazu KAJI; Tohru MARUYAMA; Kaori MURAKAMI; Koichiro TSUTSUI; Takehiko FUJINO

doi:10.1271/bbb.67.1457

Food & Nutrition Science Regular Papers

High-cholesterol Diets Induce Changes in Lipid Composition of Rat Erythrocyte Membrane Including Decrease in Cholesterol, Increase in α-Tocopherol and Changes in Fatty Acids of Phospholipids

Shiro MAWATARI, Yasushi OHNISHI, Yoshikazu KAJI, Tohru MARUYAMA, Kaori MURAKAMI, Koichiro TSUTSUI, Takehiko FUJINO

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Keywords: high cholesterol diets, rat erythrocyte, cholesterol, fatty acids of phospholipids, tocopherol

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2003 Volume 67 Issue 7 Pages 1457-1464

DOI https://doi.org/10.1271/bbb.67.1457

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Abstract

Effects of high dietary cholesterol on erythrocyte membrane lipids were studied. Feeding rats with a diet containing 0.5% cholesterol and 0.15% sodium cholate for two weeks induced changes in erythrocyte membrane lipids including a decrease in cholesterol, an increase in α-tocopherol (α-Toc) and changes in the fatty acid composition of phospholipids. Oleic acid and linoleic acid increased, while arachidonic acid decreased in phosphatidylcholine. Saturated fatty acids decreased and unsaturated fatty acids increased in phosphatidylethanolamine. Almost the same changes in membrane lipids were also noted after six weeks of feeding rats with the diet. A diet containing 0.5% cholesterol but without sodium cholate caused a decrease in erythrocyte cholesterol and an increase in erythrocyte α-Toc after two weeks of feeding, as compared to the basal diet, indicating that high dietary cholesterol, but not sodium cholate, was responsible for these changes in the erythrocyte membrane.

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