Abstract
Twenty four male Wistar rats weighing about 100g. were separated into four groups. A semisynthetic diet was administered to each group and hydrogenated cocoanut oil was used as the source of fat. Group 1 was given a basal diet, group 2 a basal diet supplemented with 1% cholesterol and 0.2% cholic acid, group 3 a basal diet supplemented with 0.25% S-Methylcysteine Sulfoxide (Methiin), 1% cholesterol and 0.2% cholic acid. A diet which contained 0.5% Methiin, 1% cholesterol and 0.2% cholic acid was administered to the fourth group. After two weeks of this dietary regimen the animals were killed by decapitation. The blood, liver and aorta were removed immediately and portions of these tissues were examined to determine cholesterol and phospholipid levels.
The blood cholesterol level in rats fed 1% cholesterol added diet was elevated to approximately 500 mg/dl. (group 2) and supplementation of Methiin to the cholesterol diet depressed this elevation significantly. In contrast, phospholipid levels revealed no significant change in the experimental groups. Total cholesterol of the liver decreased significantly by the addition of Methiin to hypercholesterolemic diet but free cholesterol in liver and total cholesterol in aorta revealed no significant change. This effect of Methiin concerning nutrition of vegetables showed the given consideration.
