Effect of pectin on rat's blood lipids and antioxidant capacity

  Objective   To investigate the regulating effects of pectin on lowering blood lipids and antioxidation in the hypercholesterolemic rats.

  Methods   Adult male Wistar rats were divided into five groups, ten rats per group.As the control group, normal diet group and high-fat diet group were fed either the normal diet or high-cholesterol diet.The low, middle and high dose groups were given one of the diets incorporated pectin at the different level of 5%, 10%, 10% or 20% respectively, the experiment lasted one month.

  Results   Pectin affected the feed intake of the experimental rats.The serum levels of TC, TG in the middle and high dose groups were significantly lower and HDL-C in the middle dose grpoup higher than high-fat group; The level of MDA was significantly lower in all three experimental groups than high-fat group, there were no different changes of activities of SOD and GSH-Px in the low and middle dose groups compared with high-fat group.

  Conclusion   Pectin could decrease the blood lipids level and peroxidative status.High dose pectin was harmful to rat'health.