高膽固醇飲食添加紅麴粉末及黃豆固醇對倉鼠體內脂質代謝及抗氧化酵素之影響

This study evaluated the cholesterol-lowering effectiveness and plasma antioxidative enzymes produced by Monascus rice powder and soysterols in hamsters. Fifty-four weanling male hamsters were divided into six treatment groups (C, control diet; S, 2.5% soysterol diet; M, 1.0% monacolin diet; MS1, combines with 2.5% soysterol and 2.0% monacolin diet; MS2, 1.0% S + 0.8% M; MS3, 0,5% S + 0.4% M) and induced with hypercholesterolemia for this study. Single or combined doses of Monascus rice powder and soysterols were administrated in the study for 4 weeks. After treatment, blood and liver samples were taken for lipid profiles and antioxidative enzyme activity analysis. Results indicated that the plasma and hepatic TG, cholesterol levels and the ratio of LDL/HDL decreased in the Monascus rice powder and soysterols combined groups. The lipid accumulation in the liver also diminished over the four-week administration. Furthermore, the combined groups presented more effective cholesterol-lowering ability. From the dose viewpoint, the highest dose of Monascus rice powder and soysterols presented the greatest effectiveness in lowering plasma cholesterol and hepatic lipid accumulation. Moreover, the combined Monascus rice powder and soysterols increased cholesterol and bile acid excretion, however the Monascus rice powder diet tended to decrease bile acid execretion. The RBC glutathione peroxidase and whole blood superoxide dismutase activity showed no significant difference among combined groups, however Monascus rice powder alone diet tended to elevate the superoxide dismutase activity.