2017 Volume 27 Issue 4 Pages 237-242
The postprandial increase in blood triglyceride levels is an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease and a large number of studies has shown that a diet rich in vegetables may provide protection against many chronic diseases. Leaf vegetables generally contain β-carotene, zeaxanthin and chlorophyll including thylakoids. In this study, we investigated the bile acid-binding capacities of thylakoids in vitro and the suppressive effects of it before the administration of a lipid meal on postprandial hypertriglyceridemia in rats using oral fat tolerance/loading tests (OFTT). Consequently, thylakoids bound bile acids in a dose-dependent manner. Following the administration of the lipid meals, increases in the serum triglycerides levels were significantly reduced in rats fed 300 mg/kg bw of thylakoids just before lipid meals. Additionally, the area under the curve showed that a high-dose thylakoids significantly inhibited the absorption of dietary fat. Moreover, the level of fecal bile acid was significantly increased although there were no significant differences in the fecal volume and fecal total lipid levels.
These results suggest that thylakoid intake before eating a lipid diet induces a suppressive effect of postprandial hypertriglyceridemia to defecate bile acid and confirmed the results of the health-promoting potential dietary thylakoids. This health benefit of thylakoids could be achieved by substantially increasing the consumption of vegetables.
