When mice fed a high-cholesterol diet were given 0.5 ml of a solution of Adzuki polyphenols (Adzuki- PP; 4 mg/ml) for two weeks via a catheter, the atherosclerotic index of experimental mice was significantly lower than that of the control group, indicating a significant inhibitory effect of Adzuki-PP on serum cholesterol level. In addition, the fecal cholesterol level in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group. Supplementation of Adzuki-PP to a concentration of 290 ppm lowered the solubility of micellar cholesterol in a concentration-dependent manner, indicating that Adzuki-PP inhibits cholesterol micellization. It was therefore suggested that the inhibitory effect of Adzuki-PP on cholesterol micellization in the digestive tract was associated with suppressed serum cholesterol levels.
