Abstract
Effects of sugar cane wax on serum and liver lipids were studied in male Wistar rats fed a high level of plant (corn oil) or animal (lard) fat. No differences were found in serum and liver lipids of rats fed corn oil or lard, except for some accumulation of cholesterol in the liver of rats fed the animal fat. The addition of 0.5% cane wax to dietary fat caused a significant reduction in the concentration of serum triacylglycerol, while the cholesterol level was significantly decreased only in rats reared on the lard diet. Cane wax did not apparently effect the concentration of liver lipids. Dietary fats and the addition of cane wax to the diet did not effect the fecal excretion of neutral and acidic steroids. These results demonstrated the hypolipidemic action of sugar cane wax. The mechanism responsible for the reduction of cholesterol by cane wax may be mediated by changes in cholesterol metabolism in the body, but not fecal steroids.
