Effects of Dietary Phytosterols on Liver Lipids and Lipid Metabolism Enzymes

Abstract

The effects of dietary phytosterols on lipid metabolism have been assessed through determination of liver lipids (sterols and fatty acids) and lipid metabolism enzymes (acetyl-CoA carboxylase, malic enzyme, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) in rats fed 12 or 24 mg cholesterol a day and 0-96 mg phytosterols. The results indicate that, provided the dietary phytosterol to cholesterol ratio is at least 1 and in the presence of a dietary cholesterol excess, phytosterols do exert a regulatory role through decreases of both acetyl-CoA carboxylase and malic enzyme activities. A ratio of 2 enhances this effect. At the same time, liver fatty acids and cholesterol contents significantly decrease.