Effects of Spirulina platensis on Fructose-induced Hyperlipidemia in Rats

Abstract

The effects of Spirulina platensis on plasma and liver lipids were studied in 3-week-old male Wistar rats fed on a high-fructose diet. The rats were fed on high-fructose diets containing 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% dried Spirulina for 4 weeks ad libitum. The elevation in the plasma levels of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglyceride and phospholipid caused by the fructose feeding was clearly reduced by Spirulina supplementation. However, Spirulina feeding had no effect on liver lipids. These results suggest that the dietary hyperlipidemia caused by the high-fructose diet was cured by Spirulina feeding.