Antiobesity Effect of Baek-Kimchi (Whitish Baechu Kimchl) in Rats Fed High Fat Diet

Abstract

Baek-kimchi (whitish baechu kimchi) was evaluated for anti-obesity properties and effects on triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol in blood and adipose tissues in rats fed a high fat (20%) diet, and compared to the similar effects of baechu kimchi. Baek-kimchi does not use red pepper powder but contains higher levels of sliced radish and pear than baechu kimchi. SD rats were raised for four weeks on either a normal diet (ND, based on the AIN-93M diet), high fat diet (HFD, supplemented with 16% lard oil in the ND), or HFD containing 5% baek-kimchi or 5% baechu kimchi. Feed consumption was not different among the groups, but weight gains were significantly lower in the groups fed either the normal diet or HFD with baek-kimchi or baechu kimchi diets than the group fed HFD alone. The weights of liver and epididymal and perirenal fat pads in baek-kimchi and baechu kimchi diet groups were lower than those of the HFD groups, but the baek-kimchi diet group had lower epididymal and perirenal fat pad weights than the baechu kimchi diet group (p＜0.05). The baechu kimchi dietary group also had significantly lower triglyceride and cholesterol contents in liver and epididymal and perirenal fat, reversing the higher levels seen in HFD. Baek-kimchi and baechu kimchi diets were also effective in lowering serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels (p＜0.05). These results suggest that baek-kimchi and baechu kimchi consumption can reverse the effects of HFD on weight gain and blood and tissue lipids, and that baek-kimchi is more effective than baechu kimchi. The greater effect is probably due to the higher content of radish and pear used in baek-kimchi.