抄録
The effects of the cell wall components of Lactobacillus casei on serum cholesterol and liver cholesterol levels were examined in diet-induced hypercholesterolemic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats at five weeks of age were fed a hypercholesterolemic diet that contained cholesterol (0.5 g cholesterol/100 g diet) and sodium cholate (0.125 g sodium cholate/ 100 g diet) for 13 days. The test diet was supplemented with cell wall components from the Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (LC, 4 g/100 g diet) or its protease-treated preparation (LP, 4 g/100g diet). Hypercholesterolemia was observed in all of the groups fed the hypercholesterolemic diet; however, LP suppressed the elevation of serum total cholesterol level at seven days. Furthermore, both LC and LP significantly lowered the serum total cholesterol level in comparison with the control group, and maintained normal levels of serum HDL-cholesterol at the time of sacrifice. LP also increased fecal sterol excretion, while LC had no effect.
