Weight Reduction and Lipid Lowering Effects of Kimchi Lactic Acid Powder in Rats Fed High Fat Diets

Abstract

Effects of kimchi lactic acid powder (KL) on weight reduction and lipid-lowering activities were studied using rats fed high fat diet. Spraque Dawley (40 rats) were fed 20% (w/w) high fat diet for 8 weeks to induce obesity and divided equally into normal diet (ND), high fat diet (HFD), and 10 and 20% KL-added groups. Body weight of HFD was 150% (p < 0.01) of ND, while those of HFK10 and HFK20 decreased by 13 and 15% compared to HFD, respectively (p < 0.01). Amounts of visceral fats for HFK10 and HFK20 were decreased by 42 and 48% compared to that of HFD (198% of ND), respectively (p < 0.01). KL had greater effect on reducing visceral fats than body weight. Plasma triglyceride (155%), cholesterol (129%), and LDL (161%) concentrations of HFD, which had been significantly increased compared to ND, dropped by 26, 9, and 8% (p < 0.01) in HFK10, and 35, 17, and 33% (p < 0.05) in HFK20, respectively. Decreased HDL by high fat diet was re-increased by KL supplementation. KL showed lipid-lowering and liver-protecting effects in liver possibly by interrupting lipid absorption in the intestine either by absorbing lipids in their cell walls or degrading them rapidly. Increased excretion of TG and cholesterol in feces of HFK10 and HFK20 indicates KL might have similar role to dietary fiber.