Abstract
Non-treated high-amylose corn starch (HAS) and heat-moisture-treated HAS (HMT) are resistant starch enriched foodstuff. In this study, we examined the influence of resistant starches of HAS and HMT on cholesterol metabolism of Wistar rats fed a high-fat and high-cholesterol (0.25%) diet either containing 20% of untreated corn starch (control group), HAS (HAS group) or HMT (HMT group) for 18 days. Fecal weights of the HAS or HMT were significantly higher than that of control group, and that of HMT was significantly higher than that of HAS group. Fecal cholesterol excretions of the HAS or HMT groups were higher than that of the control group. Fecal bile acid excretion of the HAS or HMT groups were significantly higher than that of the control group. Liver cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase activity increased significantly in the HMT group. Serum and liver cholesterol levels remained unchanged in the HAS and HMT groups. These results showed that the ingestion of HAS and HMT effectively functioned as dietary fiber supplement and accerarated fecal bile acid excretion.
