Lower Blood Cholesterol Levels Research Articles

Viability of Lactobacillus acidophilus in acidophilus milk during frozen storage and its potential to lower cholesterol: an In vivo study.

The viability and functional activity of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), such as Lactobacillus acidophilus in a fermented milk product is important. One of the functional activities of the LAB in fermented milk is the ability of the LAB to positively impact the human health. This study aimed to determine the effect of frozen storage on the fermented milk, namely acidophilus milk, based on the nutritional milk quality, the viability of L. acidophilus, and its potential to lower cholesterol levels in Wistar rats. The parameters measured was including milk quality (mainly pH, protein content, lactic acid levels, and syneresis), L. acidophilus bacterial viability in frozen storage (for 1, 2, and 3months), and some biological assays to evaluate the potential of milk in lowering blood cholesterol levels in Wistar rats. The result of this study suggests that acidophilus milk quality can be maintained in frozen storage for two months, and it had lactic acid levels of 1.07%, pH of 4.08, and protein levels of 3.33%. Giving acidophilus milk to Wistar rats for 15days could reduce the cholesterol level continuously until 30days of treatment. Therefore, this study proves that acidophilus milk quality can be maintained very well in frozen storage, and its functional properties to lower the cholesterol level of Wistar rats can be achieved after two weeks of consumption.

Direct Molecular Action of Taurine on Hepatic Gene Expression Associated with the Amelioration of Hypercholesterolemia in Rats.

Taurine can ameliorate hypercholesterolemia by facilitating cholesterol efflux and increasing cytochrome P450 7A1 (CYP7A1) without clear underlying molecular mechanisms. This study aims to elucidate the molecular action of taurine in diet-induced hypercholesterolemia. Male Wistar rats were fed a high cholesterol diet containing 5% taurine for 14 days. Three-dimensional primary hepatocytes from rats were exposed to 10 mM taurine for 24 h. Transcriptome analyses of both the liver and hepatocytes were performed using DNA microarray. Taurine significantly decreased serum cholesterol levels and increased hepatic CYP7A1 mRNA levels and transcription rates in rats. Taurine altered the expression of seventy-seven genes in the liver, involving lipid, drug, amino acid metabolism, and gluconeogenesis pathways. The small heterodimer partner (SHP), a transcription factor regulated by taurine, was suppressed. "Network analysis" revealed a negative correlation between the SHP and induction of CYP7A1 and cytochrome P450 8B1 (CYP8B1). However, CYP7A1 and CYP8B1 levels were not altered by taurine in 3D-primary hepatocytes. Venn diagram analyses of the transcriptomes in both hepatocytes and the liver indicated a consistent upregulation of organic anion transporting polypeptide 2 (OATP2) and betaine homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT). Taurine ameliorated hypercholesterolemia in rats fed a high cholesterol diet by directly enhancing the hepatic expression of BHMT and OATP2, which modulated the SHP and induced CYP7A1 and CYP8B1, thereby promoting cholesterol catabolism and lowering blood cholesterol levels.

Molecular insights into human phosphatidylserine synthase 1 reveal its inhibition promotes LDL uptake

In mammalian cells, two phosphatidylserine (PS) synthases drive PS synthesis. Gain-of-function mutations in the Ptdss1 gene lead to heightened PS production, causing Lenz-Majewski syndrome (LMS). Recently, pharmacological inhibition of PSS1 has been shown to suppress tumorigenesis. Here, we report the cryo-EM structures of wild-type human PSS1 (PSS1WT), the LMS-causing Pro269Ser mutant (PSS1P269S), and PSS1WT in complex with its inhibitor DS55980254. PSS1 contains 10 transmembrane helices (TMs), with TMs 4-8 forming a catalytic core in the luminal leaflet. These structures revealed a working mechanism of PSS1 akin to the postulated mechanisms of the membrane-bound O-acyltransferase family. Additionally, we showed that both PS and DS55980254 can allosterically inhibit PSS1 and that inhibition by DS55980254 activates the SREBP pathways, thus enhancing the expression of LDL receptors and increasing cellular LDL uptake. This work uncovers a mechanism of mammalian PS synthesis and suggests that selective PSS1 inhibitors have the potential to lower blood cholesterol levels.

X chromosome dosage drives statin-induced dysglycemia and mitochondrial dysfunction

Statin drugs lower blood cholesterol levels for cardiovascular disease prevention. Women are more likely than men to experience adverse statin effects, particularly new-onset diabetes (NOD) and muscle weakness. Here we find that impaired glucose homeostasis and muscle weakness in statin-treated female mice are associated with reduced levels of the omega-3 fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), impaired redox tone, and reduced mitochondrial respiration. Statin adverse effects are prevented in females by administering fish oil as a source of DHA, by reducing dosage of the X chromosome or the Kdm5c gene, which escapes X chromosome inactivation and is normally expressed at higher levels in females than males. As seen in female mice, we find that women experience more severe reductions than men in DHA levels after statin administration, and that DHA levels are inversely correlated with glucose levels. Furthermore, induced pluripotent stem cells from women who developed NOD exhibit impaired mitochondrial function when treated with statin, whereas cells from men do not. These studies identify X chromosome dosage as a genetic risk factor for statin adverse effects and suggest DHA supplementation as a preventive co-therapy.

Cascade enzymatic synthesis of a statin side chain precursor - the role of reaction engineering in process optimization.

Statins are an important class of drugs used to lower blood cholesterol levels and are often used to combat cardiovascular disease. In view of the importance of safe and reliable supply and production of statins in modern medicine and the global need for sustainable processes, various biocatalytic strategies for their synthesis have been investigated. In this work, a novel biocatalytic route to a statin side chain precursor was investigated in a one-pot cascade reaction starting from the protected alcohol N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-2-phenylacetamide, which is oxidized to the corresponding aldehyde in the first reaction step, and then reacts with two equivalents of acetaldehyde to form the final product N-(2-((2S,4S,6S)-4,6-dihydroxytetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)ethyl)-2-phenylacetamide (phenylacetamide-lactol). To study this complex reaction, an enzyme reaction engineering approach was used, i.e. the kinetics of all reactions occurring in the cascade (including side reactions) were determined. The obtained kinetic model together with the simulations gave an insight into the system and indicated the best reactor mode for the studied reaction, which was fed-batch with acetaldehyde feed to minimize its negative effect on the enzyme activity during the reaction. The mathematical model of the process was developed and used to simulate different scenarios and to find the reaction conditions (enzyme and coenzyme concentration, substrate feed concentration and flow rate) at which the highest yield of phenylacetamide-lactol (75%) can be obtained. In the end, our goal was to show that this novel cascade route is an interesting alternative for the synthesis of the statin side chain precursor and that is why we also calculated an initial estimate of the potential value addition.

Anti-diabetic Activity of Spirulina and Chlorella in In vivo Experimental Rats

The effects of supplying experimental rats with unicellular green algae Chlorella and tiny filamentous cyanobacteria Spirulina, on type 2 diabetes (T2DM) were examined in the present study. Eight sets of male Sprague-Dawley albino rats, each with six individuals, were used in the investigation. Throughout the trial, Group 1 was the negative control group and was given saline regularly. Group 2 was given alloxan to induce diabetes. Spirulina was given to groups 3, 4, and 5 at dosages of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg body weight, respectively, after diabetes induction. Similarly, groups 6, 7, and 8 received dosages of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg body weight of Chlorella, respectively. The findings indicated that the control group had significantly higher levels of triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), blood sugar, and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and considerably lower levels of insulin, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and phospholipids. However, rats given Spirulina (groups 3, 4, and 5) showed notably higher insulin, HDL, and phospholipids levels and significantly lower blood glucose, cholesterol, VLDL, LDL, and triglycerides levels. Rats fed with Chlorella (groups 6, 7, and 8) also showed increased effectiveness of feed ratios, greater final weights, and body weight growth percentages compared to the control group. The present study shows that supplementing with Spirulina and Chlorella improves insulin lipid patterns, blood sugar, and type 2 diabetes in vivo laboratory rats. According to the research, Spirulina and Chlorella may be used as functional meals to help control and cure diabetes.

THE BENEFITS OF ELDERLY GYMNASTICS ON CHOLESTEROL LEVELS AT KAWAN SEIRING POSYANDU IN BAMBU KUNING VILLAGE, WORKING AREA OF PUSKESMAS REJOSARI

Elderly gymnastics is a series of regular, directed, and planned movements performed with the aim of enhancing the functional abilities of the body. Regular elderly gymnastics can lower blood cholesterol levels in the elderly. If cholesterol levels decrease, it is highly beneficial for the body as it can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this community service implementation is to lower cholesterol levels among the elderly at the Kawan Seiring Posyandu in the Bambu Kuning Village within the working area of Puskesmas Rejosari in 2024. The method of community service implementation involves providing education and active physical activities through elderly gymnastics. There were 10 elderly participants in this community service activity. The results of this service activity show differences in cholesterol levels before and after gymnastics among the elderly, as elderly gymnastics are highly beneficial for human health, including improving the function of the heart, lungs, and blood vessels.

Liposomes as Carriers of Bioactive Compounds in Human Nutrition.

This article provides an overview of the literature data on the role of liposomal structures and encapsulated substances in food technology and human nutrition. The paper briefly describes how liposomes are created and how they encapsulate food ingredients, which can either be individual compounds or plant extracts. Another very interesting application of liposomes is their use as antimicrobial carriers to protect food products from spoilage during storage. The encapsulation of food ingredients in liposomes can increase their bioavailability, which is particularly important for compounds with health-promoting properties but low bioavailability. Particular attention was paid to compounds such as phytosterols, which lower blood cholesterol levels but have very low absorption in the human body. In addition, consumer expectations and regulations for liposomes in food are discussed. To date, no in vivo human studies have been conducted to indicate which encapsulation methods give the best results for gastrointestinal effects and which food-added substances are most stable during food storage and processing. The paper identifies further lines of research that are needed before liposomes can be introduced into food.

Efficacy of edamame vs. almond consumption on total cholesterol in reproductive-age women

Hypercholesterolemia in adults over 18 years of age poses a significant health risk. Reproductive-age women are susceptible to this condition owing to unhealthy dietary habits, notably consumption of fast food. This study aimed to investigate the potential of edamame and almonds to lower blood cholesterol levels. This study employed a pre-test post-test group design following a 6-week intervention. Twenty-eight participants were recruited through consecutive sampling conducted in Purwokerto between March and August of 2022. Statistical analyses were performed using independent and paired t-tests. Results indicated no significant difference in the effectiveness of edamame and almonds in reducing total cholesterol levels among reproductive-age women (p= 0,534). After consumption of 48,8 g/d edamame for 6 weeks, a substantial decrease in total cholesterol levels was observed (p= 0,004), with a mean reduction of 17,79 ± 19,11 mg/dL. Conversely, the intervention with 42,5 g/d of almonds for 6 weeks did not significantly change total cholesterol levels (p= 0,193), yielding a mean reduction of 11,57 ± 31,51 mg/dL. In conclusion, the consumption of edamame for six weeks is effective in lowering total cholesterol levels among women of reproductive age.

Preparation and physicochemical evaluation of phytosterol‐enriched sesame oil microemulsions

AbstractSesame oil, known for its nutritional benefits, was selected as source for phytosterol extraction. Optimal conditions of 40°C, oil‐to‐solvent ratio of 1:25, and a saponification duration of 150 min were employed to separate the phytosterols from sesame oil. The extracted phytosterols were encapsulated using microemulsion method. Various variables, such as percent of sesame oil, surfactant‐to‐cosurfactant ratio, and presence of phytosterols, were evaluated to determine their impact on particle size, polydispersity, pH, viscosity, surface tension, and stability. The particle size and PDI demonstrated significant increase with increasing oil and addition of phytosterols. A higher S:C ratio resulted in the formation of smaller microemulsion droplets. The viscosity and surface tension of the microemulsions increased significantly with an increase in the oil percent. In conclusion, the optimal composition of the microemulsion was found to be 10 wt% sesame oil with an S:C ratio of 3:1. FESEM micrographs revealed a microstructure consisting of cylindrical micelles.Practical applicationsResearch has shown that consuming 2–3 g of plant sterols and stanols can lower blood cholesterol levels by 10% and LDL levels by 15%. However, incorporating phytosterols into food products is challenging due to oxidation, insolubility, and high melting point. Most phytosterols are esterified to enrich low‐fat foods but they can be expensive and impure. The synthesis of phytosterols often involves carcinogenic chemicals and requires additional purification. Extracting phytosterols from plant sources has been proposed as a solution. However, incorporating phytosterols into food products is challenging due to their susceptibility to oxidation, particularly during processing and storage at high temperatures, their insolubility in water, and their limited solubility in fats and oils. The main aim of this study was to enrich sesame oil microemulsions with phytosterols through encapsulation. Phytosterols were extracted from sesame seed oil, followed by purification, and finally, enriched microemulsions were prepared. The optimal formulation was determined based on the evaluation of several parameters, including the mean volume diameter of particles, polydispersity index, pH, viscosity, surface tension, and physical stability.

Effect of heating time on changes in physicochemical properties and fatty acid composition of red palm oil

Crude Palm Oil (CPO) contains approximately 50% saturated fatty acids and approximately 40% unsaturated fatty acids. Unsaturated fatty acid content is known to be effective in lowering blood cholesterol levels. Palm oil also contains -carotene which is very beneficial for health. Palm oil processing is defined by three stages, namely degumming, bleaching and deodorization. The bleaching process is carried out at 90–105oC using 1-2% bleaching earth and deodorization at 240-270oC. The high concentration of bleaching earth and deodorization temperature causes carotene to be degraded leading to low carotene content in the final product. The effort to maintain the carotene content is to process CPO into red palm oil (RPO). The content of carotene and fatty acids contained therein will be damaged in the presence of high heat, ascertain this, a study was conducted on the effect of heating time on the chemical properties of red palm oil. The study was conducted using a completely randomized block design with prolonged heating treatment (0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 hours) at 180oC and repeated 3 times and then the fatty acid content, peroxide value, iodine number and functional groups formed in bulk red palm oil purchased online were observed. The results showed that increasing the heating time can decrease the iodine number but increase the acid number and peroxide value. Heating at 180oC for 10 hours produced iodine, acid and peroxide value of 57.72, 9.56 and 12.55, respectively. The results of the analysis using Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) showed the presence of free fatty acids at wave number 722 cm-1 and peroxide numbers at wave number 2.854 cm-1. The test results using gas chromatography showed that linoleic acid decreased by about 3.23% during heating for up to 10 hours, while saturated fatty acids increased by about 0.32%. Key words: Cooking oil, Free fatty acid, Iodine number, Peroxide number, polymerization

Dichloroacetic acid derivatives as potential anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory agents

The aim. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of dichloroacetic acid derivatives. We aim to cover all aspects of these compounds, including their chemical properties, various synthesis methods, and their wide range of applications in medicinal chemistry. By exploring their diverse roles in drug development, we aim to highlight their importance and potential in shaping future pharmaceutical innovation.
 Materials and methods. Bibliosemantic and analytical methods are used in the research.
 Results. Our studies confirm the potential effectiveness of dichloroacetic acid and its derivatives in the treatment of cancer and other diseases. These compounds can induce the apoptosis process, which is the programmed cell death, and inhibit the cancer cells' growth. This is particularly effective when dichloroacetic acid and its derivatives are used in combination with other therapeutic methods, as indicated in the patents cited in our study. Dichloroacetic acid and its derivatives have also shown the ability to lower blood glucose and cholesterol levels. This indicates the possibility of their use for diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and lactic acidosis treatment. Diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and lactic acidosis are serious conditions that can lead to significant health problems. Therefore, the possibility of using dichloroacetic acid and its derivatives for the treatment of these conditions opens new perspectives in medical science.
 Conclusions. Our findings point to the prospects of further research in the field of new therapy methods development and the use of dichloroacetic acid derivatives as potential drugs to improve the effectiveness of cancer and other diseases treatment. We believe that these compounds have great potential for further study and may play an important role in future medical innovation

Persimmon fruit downstream prospects: a promising solution to increase farmer income in Malang Regency, East Java, Indonesia

This study explores the potential and benefits of persimmon fruit (Diospyros kaki) for human health and the prospects for producing and downstream this fruit in Indonesia. Persimmons have rich nutritional content, including vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and vitamin K, as well as essential minerals such as potassium. This content has been known to have various benefits, including its ability to lower blood cholesterol levels, maintain eye health, and even potentially as an antiviral agent. In Indonesia, persimmons are less popular, but some regions such as Malang (East Java) and Toba (North Sumatra) produce them to increase farmers’ income. This research also explores the downstream potential of persimmon fruit products. This step is part of the community’s economic empowerment strategy by utilizing the potential of environmentally sound natural resources in East Java, Indonesia. This study uses the SWOT analysis method to determine internal and external factors that can see the prospects of persimmon farmers and factors that affect the downstream development of persimmon fruit products. This study aims to identify the prospects of persimmon farmers and components that affect farmers’ income through sustainable downstream of persimmon fruit products.

Evaluation of Lemon Peel Juice Fermentation Methods and Its Impact on Hyperlipidemia and Health Management

Excessive body fat is a major contributor to obesity, which is related to high blood, total cholesterol, and triglycerides. Lemons (Citrus limon) are renowned for their antioxidant and lipid-lowering properties. First, sugar-free fermentation demonstrated better results in lowering sugar content and was identified as the preferred fermentation method. Next, the effect of two doses of sugar-free fermented lemon peel juice (SF-FLPJ) on obesity was investigated. Sprague Dawley (male rats) were randomly divided into 4 groups and fed a standard feed or high-fat diet (HFD) to induce fatness for eight weeks. The two groups of rats fed an HFD were administered SF-FLPJ at 0.45 or 0.9 g/kg body weight daily for eight weeks. The obese rats administered 0.9 g/kg (body weight/day) of SF-FLPJ exhibited significant reductions in body fat mass and percentage; they also had lower blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels than the other groups. Additionally, the rats displayed diminished liver fat accumulation. The results suggest that SF-FLPJ can be a supplement in managing body fat, contributing positively to addressing obesity within the context of health management, and reducing obesity-associated issues.

Alpha-1-antitrypsin-deficiency is associated with lower cardiovascular risk: an approach based on federated learning

BackgroundChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an inflammatory multisystemic disease caused by environmental exposures and/or genetic factors. Inherited alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is one of the best recognized genetic factors increasing the risk for an early onset COPD with emphysema. The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of the associations between comorbidities and specific biomarkers in COPD patients with and without AATD to enable future investigations aimed, for example, at identifying risk factors or improving care.MethodsWe focused on cardiovascular comorbidities, blood high sensitivity troponin (hs-troponin) and lipid profiles in COPD patients with and without AATD. We used clinical data from six German University Medical Centres of the MIRACUM (Medical Informatics Initiative in Research and Medicine) consortium. The codes for the international classification of diseases (ICD) were used for COPD as a main diagnosis and for comorbidities and blood laboratory data were obtained. Data analyses were based on the DataSHIELD framework.ResultsOut of 112,852 visits complete information was available for 43,057 COPD patients. According to our findings, 746 patients with AATD (1.73%) showed significantly lower total blood cholesterol levels and less cardiovascular comorbidities than non-AATD COPD patients. Moreover, after adjusting for the confounder factors, such as age, gender, and nicotine abuse, we confirmed that hs-troponin is a suitable predictor of overall mortality in COPD patients. The comorbidities associated with AATD in the current study differ from other studies, which may reflect geographic and population-based differences as well as the heterogeneous characteristics of AATD.ConclusionThe concept of MIRACUM is suitable for the analysis of a large healthcare database. This study provided evidence that COPD patients with AATD have a lower cardiovascular risk and revealed that hs-troponin is a predictor for hospital mortality in individuals with COPD.

Macromolecular characterization of high β-glucan oat lines

Oat (Avena sativa) is a cereal grain rich in fibers, proteins, vitamins and minerals. Oats have been linked to several health benefits, such as lowering blood cholesterol levels, counteracting cardiovascular disease and regulating blood sugar levels. This study aimed to characterize two new oat lines with high β-glucan content emanating from ethyl methyl sulphonate mutagenesis on the Lantmännen elite variety Belinda. Two of the mutated lines, and the mother variety Belinda, were profiled for β-glucan, arabinoxylan, total dietary fiber and starch composition. In addition, total lipid and protein content, amino acid composition and β-glucan molecular weights were analyzed. The high levels of β-glucan resulted in a significant increase in total dietary fiber, but no correlation could be established between higher or lower levels of the assayed macromolecules, i.e., between arabinoxylan-, starch-, lipid- or protein levels in the mutated lines compared to the reference. The results indicate separate biosynthetic pathways for β-glucans and other macromolecules and an independent regulation of the different polysaccharides studied. Therefore, ethyl methyl sulphonate mutagenesis can be used to increase levels of multiple macromolecules in the same line.

Ischemic Stroke and its Correlation with Low Blood Cholesterol Levels

Ischemic stroke occurs as a result of blockage of blood supply to the brain. It causes damage of brain tissue due to less availability of oxygen and nutrients. HDL-C is a significant risk factor for ischemic stroke. Objective: To evaluate the low HDL-C levels in ischemic stroke hospitalized patients. Methods: It is a descriptive cross sectional retrospective study conducted at Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad, Pakistan. The anticipated association of abnormal HDL-C levels in ischemic stroke was assessed in 200 cases. The data were collected from hospital records, patients were confirmed for stroke on the basis of CT scan. This descriptive analysis was performed based on the lab findings of patients from hospital records. Medical history, CT scans and demographic information of patients was obtained from hospital records after taking data collection permission from hospital. Results: A low level of HDL-C was identified in 126 patients (64%) according to the study's results. When the HDL-C values of ischemic stroke patients were compared using the Chi-Square Test, the p value obtained was 0.0001. Conclusions: The majority of ischemic stroke patients had low serum HDL-C levels. This study suggests an association of low serum HDL-C levels with susceptibility or risk for ischemic stroke.

Purple Napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach) Hot Water Extracts Ameliorate High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity and Metabolic Disorders in Mice.

Purple Pennisetum (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach), a hybrid between Taihucao No. 2 and the local wild species of purple Pennisetum, has dark red stems and leaves due to its anthocyanin content. This study explores the potential of purple napiergrass extracts (PNE) in alleviating obesity and metabolic disorders induced by a high-fat diet in mice, where 50% of the caloric content is derived from fat. Mice were orally administered low-dose or high-dose PNE alongside a high-fat diet. Experimental findings indicate that PNE attenuated weight gain, reduced liver, and adipose tissue weight, and lowered blood cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, and blood sugar levels. Stained sections showed that PNE inhibited lipid accumulation and fat hypertrophy in the liver. Immunoblotting analysis suggested that PNE improved the inflammatory response associated with obesity, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia induced by a high-fat diet. Furthermore, PNE potentially functions as a PPAR-γ agonist, increasing the adiponectin (ADIPOQ) concentration and suppressing inflammatory factors, while elevating the anti-inflammatory factor interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the liver. PNE-treated mice showed enhanced activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathways and increased fatty acid oxidation and liver lipolysis. In conclusion, this study elucidated the mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory, PI3K/Akt, and AMPK pathways in a high-fat diet-induced obesity model. These findings highlight the potential of PNE in reducing weight, inhibiting inflammation, and improving blood sugar and lipid levels, showing the potential for addressing obesity-related metabolic disorders in humans.

EXPLORING THE SCIENTIFIC BENEFITS OF PHYTESTEROL ENRICHED SOYA-BUTTER- A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Phytosterol-enriched soy butter presents a novel culinary option suitable for diverse food preparations. This plant-derived butter originates from soybeans, which furnish imperative amino acids, unsaturated fats, including oleic and linoleic acids, isoflavones, phyto-sterols, lecithins, saponins, and an array of minerals, folic acid, and B vitamins. The soybean-derived butter incorporates phytosterols extracted from vegetable oil. These compounds exhibit a structure akin to cholesterol, yet they function to lower blood cholesterol levels through competitive inhibition. This fortified soy butter holds potential advantages for individuals grappling with metabolic disorders such as cholesterolemia, juvenile diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and chronic ailments like osteoporosis, cancer, menopausal syndrome, and anemia. Consequently, this product stands to offer superior health benefits compared to alternative offerings in the market

Barley consumption under a high-fat diet suppresses lipogenic genes through altered intestinal bile acid composition

We evaluated whether barley flour consumption in a high-fat environment affects lipid metabolism through signals mediated by bile acids. Four-week-old mice were fed a high-fat diet supplemented with cellulose (HC) or β-glucan-rich barley flour (HB) for 12 weeks. Bile acid composition in the intestinal tract and feces was measured by GC/MS. Gene expression levels involved in bile acid metabolism in the liver and intestinal tract were determined by RT-PCR. Similar parameters were measured in mice treated with antibiotics (antibiotics-cellulose [AC] and antibiotics-barley [AB]) to reduce the activity of intestinal bacteria. The Results showed that the HB group had lower liver blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels than the HC group. The HB group showed a significant decrease in primary bile acids in the gastrointestinal tract compared to the HC group. On the other hand, the concentration of secondary bile acids relatively increased in the cecum and feces. In the liver, Fxr activation suppressed gene expression levels in synthesizing bile acids and lipids. Furthermore, in the gastrointestinal tract, Tgr5 was activated by increased secondary bile acids. Correspondingly, AMP levels were increased in the HB group compared to the HC group, AMPK was phosphorylated in the liver, and gene expression involved in lipid synthesis was downregulated. A comparison of the AC and AB groups treated with antibiotics did not confirm these effects of barley intake. In summary, our results suggest that the prevention of lipid accumulation by barley consumption involves signaling through changes in bile acid composition in the intestinal tract.