Vegetable Juices and Fibers Reduce Lipid Digestion or Absorption by Inhibiting Pancreatic Lipase, Cholesterol Solubility and Bile Acid Binding

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe main risk of cardiovascular diseases comes from incorrect eating habits. Restricting unhealthy diets is hard for most people; an alternative dietary intervention is necessary. Dietary products aiding in lipid digestion and absorption inhibitory activities may be beneficial for human health. The potential of juices from 20 vegetables as they affected lipid digestion/absorption processes was investigated. Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) juice was the most effective pancreatic lipase inhibitor, IC50 1.5 mg·mL−1, and wildbetal leafbush (Piper sarmentosum Roxb.) juice effectively inhibited cholesterol esterase (94% inhibition at 2 mg·mL−1). Juice of green eggplant (Solanum aculeatissimum Jacq.) and carrot (Daucus carota L.) could effectively inhibit cholesterol solubility in lipid micelles due to reduction of cholesterol dispersed in micelles. Fiber from green cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata) exhibited bile acid binding activity as high as that of cholestyramine, a bile acid sequestrant. Climbing wattle (Acacia pennata (L.) Willd.) juice, and green cabbage fiber exhibited good inhibition on lipid digestion in vitro. Consumption of these vegetables may inhibit intestinal lipid digestion and delay lipid absorption and might be helpful for weight control and/or lowering of serum lipid levels.