Abstract:

Objective To investigate the preventive effects of phytosterol on lipid metabolic disturbance of rats fed with high-fat diet. Methods Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into control group (fed with basic diet), high-fat model group (fed with high-fat diet), low phytosterol group（fed with high-fat diet and 100 mg/kg phytosterol) and high phytosterol group（fed with high-fat diet and 200 mg/kg phytosterol). Body weight, serum lipid, liver fat and body fat were measured at the end of experiment (6 weeks later). Results At the end of experiment, the body weight, contents of liver fat and body fat and serum TC, TG and LDL-C levels were significantly higher in high-fat model group, low phytosterol group and high phytosterol group than those in control group (P<0.05), while serum HDL-C levels in these three groups were significantly lower than that in control group (P<0.05). Compared with high-fat model group, the body weight gain and content of body fat of high phytosterol group were significantly lower (P<0.05). The contents of liver fat and serum TC, TG and LDL-C levels in low phytosterol group and high phytosterol group were significantly lower than those of high-fat model group (P<0.05). Conclusion Phytosterol could prevent lipid metabolic disturbance of rats fed with high-fat diet. High dose phytosterol has the potential to reduce the body weight gain and contents of body fat of rats fed with high-fat diet.

Key words: phytosterol, lipid metabolism, high-fat diet, obesity