Plasma triacylglycerol-reducing activity of ergosterol linolenate is associated with inhibition of intestinal lipid absorption

Abstract

Abstract This study investigated the role of ergosterol linolenate in the alleviation of hyperlipidemia induced by a high-fat diet and further explored the expression of key genes involved in lipid absorption and metabolism in mice. Twenty-four male C57BL/6J mice were divided into three groups and fed one of three experimental diets: a high-fat diet (HF), or a HF diet with either ergosterol (ER) or ergosterol linolenate (EL), respectively, for 6 weeks. The results demonstrate that EL significantly reduced plasma triacylglycerol (TG) levels by 20%, weight gain by 50% and relative perirenal and epididymal fat by 23.6%. This was accompanied by a significant decrease in liver cholesterol, liver total fatty acids and fecal bile acids, accompanied by a marked increase in fecal total fatty acids. Ergosterol linolenate effectively counteracted steatosis induced by a high-fat diet. Ergosterol linolenate also altered the mRNA expression of key intestinal and hepatic genes involved in lipid absorption and metabolism. Of them, ergosterol linolenate significantly reduced the mRNA expression of intestinal microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP), a key component in the formation of chylomicrons. Therefore, the plasma TG-reducing action of ergosterol linolenate can be largely attributed to reduced lipid absorption and increased fecal lipid excretion.