Abstract
Effects ofEuglenawax esters on growth and organs were examined with rats fed onEuglenadiet containing 10% wax esters or forced oral administration of purified wax esters ofEuglenacells.
No significant differences were found betweenEuglenadiet and casein diet groups in body weight gain and food intake. Marked increase of feces inEuglenadiet was attributable to excretion of nondigestable paramylon (β-1, 3-glucan). Wax ester contents in feces was only about 1.5% and in organs were less than O. 1% of an amount of wax esters fed to rats.
Forced oral administration of purifiedEuglenawax esters did not cause changes in growth, food intake, urinary and fece excretions and relative organ weight.
These results indicate that the administrated Euglena wax esters do not affect growth and organs of rats and that they are metabolized and absorbed in vivo.
