A Comparison of Plant Sterols Extracted from Soy-bean Germ Oil and Soy Sterol on the Cholesterol Lowering Effects in Rats

Abstract

The cholesterol lowering efficiency of plant sterols extracted from soybean germ oil (SBGO sterol) and soy sterol were investigated in rats. SBGO sterol was prepared by saponification, solvent extraction, and recrystallization in cold ethanol. After young male SD rats had been fed 0.5% cholesterol high-fat diets supplemented with 0.17-0.5% SBGO sterol or soy sterol for four weeks, their serum, liver and fecal cholesterol concentrations were measured. The serum and hepatic cholesterol lowering effect of SBGO sterol was significantly stronger than that of soy sterol, and the amount of fecally excreted cholesterol was significantly greater in the rats fed SBGO sterol than in those fed soy sterol. This difference in the cholesterol lowering effects of the sterols might be due to the difference in their sterol composition.