松花粉对家猪粪便特性及肠道菌群的影响

目的:观察松花粉对家猪粪便特性及肠道菌群的影响。方法:9头雄性阉割猪,体重363kg,随机分为对照组(基础饲料,Ⅰ组)、麦麸添加组(基础饲料加3.5%麦麸,Ⅱ组)和松花粉添加组(基础饲料加3.5%松花粉,Ⅲ组),单笼饲养,用基础饲料喂养1w后,给予不同饲料2个周期、每个周期14d的代谢实验,测定肠道菌群和粪便特性参数。结果:三组动物饲料摄入量一致,但Ⅲ组日排出新鲜粪便量比Ⅰ组多1倍,比Ⅱ组多78%;粪便干重比Ⅰ组多64%,比Ⅱ组高52%;粪便含水量是Ⅰ组的2倍,Ⅱ组的2.16倍。Ⅲ组每日粪便中排出的甘油三酯是Ⅱ组的3.5倍、Ⅰ组的3倍;每日粪便排出胆固醇达735mg,是Ⅰ组的1.7倍、Ⅱ组的1.5倍;脂肪酸排出量为1506mg,而Ⅰ组和Ⅱ组分别为535mg和560mg;胆酸的排泄量也高于其他两组,且与Ⅱ组间有显著性差异。Ⅲ组粪便中粗蛋白、粗脂肪、各项含氮组分以及有关菌群(logCFUV/d)的排出量远高于其他两组。结论:松花粉对调整机体氮代谢、肠道菌群和抑制脂肪吸收有重要意义。     

Effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus KY-3 and cellobiose as synbiotics on lipid metabolism in rats

Lactobacillus rhamnosus KY-3 is a fermentative bacterium that is used for the industrial production of L-lactic acid. We have examined the effect of L. rhamnosus KY-3 and cellobiose as synbiotics on lipid metabolism in rats. Rats were fed on a 20% casein diet (C) supplemented with either 1.7% L. rhamnosus KY-3 (KY-3), 10% cellobiose (CEB), or 1.7% L. rhamnosus KY-3 and 10% cellobiose (KY-3+CEB) for 13 d. The concentrations of serum total lipids, triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, and phospholipids were significantly reduced in rats fed a KY-3+CEB diet in comparison to those on the C, KY-3 and CEB diets. There was an increase in the weight of cecal contents and a significant increase in the amount of cecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). The dry weight of excretion increased additively upon the simultaneous administration of L. rhamnosus KY-3 and cellobiose (KY-3 + CEB). The amount of excreted fecal bile acids did not differ among the groups in this study. These findings support the hypothesis that the promotion of cecal fermentation can lower the level of serum lipids. These results suggest that simultaneous administration of L. rhamnosus KY-3 and cellobiose as synbiotics has a beneficial effect on lipid metabolism.     

Dose-response relationships between dietary (n-3) fatty acids and plasma and tissue lipids, steroid excretion and urinary malondialdehyde in rats.

For a 28-d experimental period, rats were fed a nonpurified, cereal-based diet containing 9.1% supplemental beef tallow or fish oil or one of the following beef tallow:fish oil blends: 95:5; 90:10; 80:20 and 50:50. All diets provided between 21.3 and 22.7 g linoleic acid/kg. Higher fish oil intake was paralleled by elevated incorporation of long-chain (n-3) fatty acids in plasma total lipid, mainly at the expense of arachidonic acid. Significant inverse relationships were found between plasma total (n-3) fatty acid concentration and plasma triglyceride, cholesterol or free fatty acid concentrations. Fish oil intake did not lead to a shift of triglycerides or cholesterol from the plasma to the tissues (liver, heart, kidneys). Reduced plasma cholesterol concentrations in the fish oil-fed rats could not be explained by higher fecal excretion of neutral sterols and bile acids. In vivo lipid peroxidation, assessed by urinary malondialdehyde excretion, was enhanced when diets containing greater than 1.8% fish oil were fed.     

Docosahexaenoic acid-rich fish oil and pectin have a hypolipidemic effect, but pectin increases risk factor for colon cancer in rats

This study was designed to compare the effect of fish oil rich in DHA and pectin on the level of plasma lipids, hepatic HMG CoA reductase activity, microsomal membrane fluidity, colonic luminal content of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and fecal excretion of bile acids and neutral sterols in rats. Male SD rats (7wks) were divided into three groups according to dietary fat sources, beef tallow (BT), corn oil (CO), fish oil (FO) and each group was subdivided into cellulose and pectin groups. The rats were fed for 25 wks the experimental diet containing 15% fat and 6% fiber and all rats were intramuscularly injected. with DMH. FO significantly reduced the levels of plasma Chol, TG, LDL-C, VLDL-C and hepatic HMG CoA reductase activity and increased membrane fluidity as compared with BT and CO. Pectin significantly reduced the levels of plasma Chol, VLDL-C and LDL-C, but increased HDL-C, HMG CoA reductase activity and membrane fluidity (p<0.05). However, pectin significantly increased the luminal content of butyrate and propionate in CO-fed rats and increased fecal excretion of deoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid in BT and CO-fed rats (p<0.05). Overall, fish oil had a protective effect against CVD by inhibiting hepatic HMG CoA reductase activity and increasing hepatic microsomal fluidity, thus leading to a reduction in plasma lipids. Pectin also had a protective effect against CVD by increasing fecal excretion of neutral sterols and hepatic microsomal fluidity. Pectin, however, increased risk factors for colon cancer by increasing the production of secondary bile acids and SCFA in the colon.     

Plasma lipids, lipoproteins, and fecal excretion of neutral sterols and bile acids in rats fed various high fat diets or a low fat/high sucrose diet

The effect of feeding various diets on plasma lipids and lipoproteins and on fecal excretion of neutral sterols and bile acids was studied in rats fed for 7 wk diets containing 42% of energy as either coconut oil (CO), sunflower seed oil (SO), fish body oil (FBO), cod liver oil (CLO), or a low fat/high sucrose diet (SU). Triacylglycerols (TG) in whole plasma and VLDL + LDL were lower in rats fed high amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) than in those fed the CO diet. Plasma HDL2 components in FBO and CLO groups were generally lower than in the other groups. Percentages of liver and heart linoleic and arachidonic acid were higher in the SO group, but lower in groups fed marine oils, than in the CO group. There was a high relative amount of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid in liver and heart of rats fed marine oils. Fecal excretion of bile acids was lower in the PUFA groups than in the CO group, whereas the sum of neutral sterols was similar in all groups. Plasma HDL2 (and VLDL + LDL) correlated positively, but HDL3 negatively, with fecal bile acid excretion. Accordingly, increased bile acid excretion does not seem to account for hypolipemia following intake of PUFA diets.     

大豆蛋白对人体血浆胆固醇的影响及机制探讨

目的观察大豆蛋白对正常人体血浆胆固醇浓度的影响并探讨其作用机制。方法选择健康大学生30名，男女各半，按血浆总胆固醇浓度、体重和性别均衡的原则，分为3组，在统一食谱、集中就餐的基础上，每天分别另外摄入30g酪蛋白，30g大豆分离蛋白，30g酪蛋白加880mg钙，共14d。实验开始和结束时．测量身高和体重：采血，测定血浆总胆固醇浓度。实验结束前，收集3d粪便，测定粪脂肪、钙、磷、镁和胆汁酸的排出量。结果(1)同实验开始时比，酪蛋白组血浆胆固醇浓度显著升高，而大豆蛋白组和酪蛋白加钙组血浆胆固醇浓度升高不明显。(2)同酪蛋白组比，大豆蛋白组粪钙、磷和镁的排出量均显著增加；粪脂肪和胆汁酸排出量分别增加33．6％和45．3％。(3)粪胆汁酸排出量与粪钙、磷、镁和脂肪的排出量呈显著性正相关。血浆胆固醇浓度随粪胆汁酸排出量增加呈下降的趋势。结论大豆蛋白降低血浆胆固醇浓度的机制可能是由于增加粪胆汁酸的排出量而导致肝脏中由胆固醇合成胆汁酸的增加，从而使血浆胆固醇浓度下降。     

Effect of diet and of the microbial flora of the digestive tract on the intestinal pool and fecal excretion of bile acids in the rat: a comparative study in axenic, ghotoxenic and holoxenic rats]

When axenic rats are given a microflora which causes the caecum distension present to disappear but does not metabolize bile acids, the intestinal pools and fecal excretion of bile acids are intermediary between those of axenic and those of holoxenic rats. This flora acts non-specifically on bile acids metabolism by changing the physiological characters related to caecal distension in axenic rats. The intestinal pools and fecal excretion of bile acids are higher in rats given a commercial chow than in those receiving a semi-synthetic feed containing the same amount of cholesterol; the difference between axenic and holoxenic rat fecal excretions is greater than in rats given the semi-synthetic feed. This wider difference is especially due to greater fecal excretion of bile acids in holoxenic rats given the commercial diet; it is thus related to modification of the gut microbial flora due to diet.     

椰油和牛脂对大鼠血脂浓度的影响及可能机制的初步探讨

目的观察椰油和牛脂对大鼠血脂浓度的影响并初步探讨其可能机制。方法选取18只Wistar雄性大鼠，实验分2组，分别喂饲含10％椰油或牛脂的纯合成饲料21d。实验开始和结束时，测血浆总胆固醇(STC)、总甘油三脂(STG)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDLC)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDLC)、载脂蛋白A(ApoA)和载脂蛋白B(ApoB)浓度。实验结束前，收集3d粪便，测定脂肪、钙、磷、镁消化率、粪胆汁酸排出量。结果同实验开始时相比，牛脂组的大鼠血浆总胆固醇浓度显升高(P＜0．05)，而椰油组大鼠却不明显；两组大鼠ApoA浓度均显升高，HDLC、STG和ApB浓度显降低(P＜0．01)；椰油组大鼠的LDLLC/HDLC比值显降低(P＜0．01)。同椰油组相比，牛脂组大鼠的脂肪、钙和镁的消化率显降低(P＜0．01)，粪胆汁酸浓度显下降(P＜0．01)。结论同摄入椰油相比，摄入牛脂可明显升高大鼠血浆总胆固醇浓度。其机制可能为组成椰油和牛脂的脂肪酸碳链长度不同导致了胆汁酸肠肝循环的速率不同，从而，引起粪胆汁酸排出量的变化，进而调整了血浆胆固醇浓度。因此，摄入含有大量中短链脂肪酸的油脂(如椰油)有利于心血管疾病的预防。     

Digestibility of cocoa butter and corn oil in human subjects: a preliminary study

The comparative absorption of cocoa butter (25.5% C16:0, 34.4% C18:0, 34.4% C18:1, 3.4% C18:2) and corn oil (11.4% C16:0, 2.0% C18:0, 26.4% C18:1, 60.0% C18:2) was assessed in six healthy male subjects. During 3-d experimental diet periods, free-living subjects consumed either cocoa butter or corn oil as virtually the sole source of dietary fat, provided at 40% of the total energy intake in the form of specially formulated cookies. Fat absorption was determined by quantifying total fecal lipid excretion over the 3-d period. Total fecal lipid and fecal fatty acids were determined. The percentage of fat excreted was significantly higher (p less than or equal to 0.001) when subjects consumed the cocoa butter (10.8 +/- 3.2%) vs the corn oil (3.5 +/- 1.0%) diet. These results indicate that the digestibility of cocoa butter is significantly less than corn oil and may explain, in part, previous reports of a neutral effect of dietary cocoa butter on plasma cholesterol concentrations.     

Hypocholesterolemic effect of katsuobushi, smoke-dried bonito, prevents ovarian hormone deficiency-induced hypercholesterolemia

The purpose of this study was to examine whether katsuobushi, smoked-dried bonito (KB), which is a traditional Japanese food, prevents ovarian hormone deficiency-induced hypercholesterolemia. In experiment 1, ovariectomized rats (OVX-rats) were fed a purified diet containing casein or KB. Compared with the casein diet, the KB diet reduced the plasma cholesterol concentration and apparent protein digestibility, and increased the fecal dry weight and fecal bile acid excretion. In experiment 2, OVX-rats were fed one of the following four diets: casein diet containing corn oil or fish oil (CA/CO or CA/FO), or a diet containing the digested or undigested fraction of KB after treatment with microbial protease (KBE or KBR). KBR contains mainly two components: oil and protease-undigested protein of KB origin. In comparison with the CA/CO diet, the KBE diet did not affect the plasma and liver lipids concentrations, apparent protein digestibility nor fecal bile acid excretion. However, the KBR and CA/FO diets reduced the plasma cholesterol and triacylglycerol (TAG) concentrations and the liver total lipid and TAG concentrations, but increased the liver total and esterified cholesterol concentrations. The KBR diet increased fecal bile acid excretion and fecal dry weight, whereas the CA/FO diet did not. Thus, the preventive effect of KB on the ovarian hormone deficiency-associated increase in plasma cholesterol concentration appears to be mediated by an increase in bile acid excretion through a promoted secretion of bile acids by the binding of bile acids to resistant proteins.     

Curdlan and gellan gum, bacterial gel-forming polysaccharides, exhibit different effects on lipid metabolism, cecal fermentation and fecal bile acid excretion in rats.

The effects of curdlan (CD) and gellan gum (GG), bacteria-producing polysaccharides, on lipid concentrations of serum and liver, fecal bile acid composition and intestinal fermentation products were studied in rats fed diets containing cellulose powder (CP), CD or GG at 5% for 4 wk. The cecal weight of the CD group increased significantly as compared to that of the other two groups and the pH of its contents was significantly low. The gastrointestinal transit time in the GG group was significantly shorter than that in the CP and CD groups. No significant inter-group differences were observed in the serum concentrations of total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol, but a significant decrease was observed in the hepatic total cholesterol concentration of the CD group as compared to that of the CP and GG groups. No significant difference in the total bile acid excretion in feces was observed among the groups, but significantly low values were observed in the proportion of secondary bile acids in the CD group as compared to those of the CP and GG groups. Amounts of short-chain fatty acids (acetic, propionic and butyric acid) and lactic acid in the cecal contents were significantly higher in the CD group than in the other two groups. These results reveal that dietary CD is easily degraded and fermented by intestinal bacteria in the cecum and lowers cholesterol concentration in the liver, while dietary GG shortens the gastrointestinal transit time, suggesting the promotion of evacuation.     

Oleyl alcohol inhibits intestinal long-chain fatty acid absorption in rats

Long-chain fatty acids are important nutrients, but obesity is the most common nutritional disorder in humans. In this study we investigated the effect of oleyl alcohol on the intestinal long-chain fatty acid absorption in rats. We administered [14C]oleic acid and oleyl alcohol as lipid emulsion intraduodenally in unanesthetized lymph-cannulated rats and measured the lymphatic output of oleic acid. Second, we orally administered lipid emulsion with a stomach tube and measured the luminal and mucosal oleic acid residues. Furthermore, rats were fed oleyl alcohol as a dietary component for 20 days, and fecal lipid and the weight of adipose tissues were measured. In lymph-cannulated rats, triglyceride and [14C]oleic acid output in the lymph were significantly lower in the presence of oleyl alcohol when compared with the absence of oleyl alcohol in a dose-dependent manner. The radioactivity remaining in the intestinal lumen was more strongly detected in rats that had been orally administered oleyl alcohol than in the controls. The feces of rats fed an oleyl-alcohol-added diet contained much higher amounts of lipids, and the weights of their adipose tissues were significantly lower than in the control group. These results suggest that oleyl alcohol inhibits the rat gastrointestinal absorption of long-chain fatty acids in vivo.     

Bile acid metabolism in rats fed two levels of corn oil and brans of oat, rye and barley and sugar beet fiber.

High concentrations of fecal bile acids are associated with a higher incidence of colon cancer. Dietary changes that alter bile acid metabolism are therefore of interest. Here, we report the effect of feeding diets containing four fiber sources and two fat levels for 7 wk on bile acid excretion and small intestinal bile acids (an index of pool size) in rats. The fiber sources were oat bran, rye bran, barley bran and sugar beet fiber. Fiber-containing diets were 8% dietary fiber and contained either 5 or 20% corn oil. All fiber sources caused significantly greater fecal output compared with the fiber-free basal diet. All fiber sources also resulted in significantly (P less than 0.05) lower fecal bile acid concentration compared with the fiber-free basal diet. Only rye bran resulted in significantly (P less than 0.05) higher total fecal bile acid excretion. Oat bran resulted in a slightly but significantly (P less than 0.05) higher quantity of small intestine bile acids compared with the other diets. Dietary fat level had no significant effect on fecal bile acid concentration or excretion or quantity of small intestinal bile acids. We conclude that all four fiber sources tested resulted in lower fecal bile acid concentration, by effectively causing greater fecal mass. Changes in dietary fat level as corn oil had no effect on fecal bile acids.     

Digestibility of cocoa butter and corn oil and their influence on fatty acid distribution in rats

The comparative bioavailability of cocoa butter (a predominantly saturated fat) and corn oil (a predominantly unsaturated fat) was determined in male Sprague-Dawley rats by analysis of total fecal lipids following ad libitum feeding of purified diets containing 5, 10 and 20% cocoa butter or corn oil for 2 wk. Fecal lipid elimination was significantly increased (P less than 0.05) in each cocoa butter group when compared with the corresponding corn oil group, resulting in lower digestibility coefficients for cocoa butter (59-72%) than for corn oil (93-97%). Body weight gain and food intake data were similar among all treatment groups. Fecal fatty acid profiles in rats fed corn oil diets consisted primarily of 27-34% palmitic acid (16:0), 22-32% stearic acid (18:0) and 25-37% oleic acid (18:1). Palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids were also the primary fatty acids stored in epididymal fat tissue from corn oil-fed rats. In contrast, fecal fatty acids in animals fed cocoa butter diets consisted of 31-37% palmitic acid and 58-64% stearic acid; oleic acid was the major fatty acid stored in epididymal fat tissue. These results indicate that the decreased digestibility of cocoa butter is largely a result of its fatty acid composition. This reduced bioavailability of cocoa butter may be at least partially responsible for its previously described neutral effect on serum cholesterol.     

Effect of the particle size of corn bran on the plasma cholesterol concentration, fecal output and cecal fermentation in rats

We studied the effect of the particle size of corn brain (CB) on the plasma cholesterol concentration, fecal output, and cecal fermentation. Rats were fed a fiber-free diet (FF) or FF containing CB (50 g/kg diet) of six different particle sizes (500, 350, 250, 177, 149, 105 μm in diameter) for 21 days. The fecal wet weight and wet weight of cecal content were significantly higher in the rats fed CB than in those fed FF. Liver total lipids, fecal moisture, fecal bile acids excretion and moisture of cecal content were significantly lower in the rats fed CB than in those fed FF. As the particle size decreased, the plasma cholesterol concentration, fecal wet weight, and fecal bulking effect decreased, while the liver cholesterol concentration, cecal wall weight, wet weight of cecal content, and total organic acids, acetic acid and n-butyric acid in the cecal content increased.     

Urinary excretion of arginine-vasopressin and prostaglandin E2 in essential fatty acid-deficient rats after oral supplementation with unsaturated fatty acid esters

Essential fatty acid-deficient rats were supplemented with 300 mg/d of pure fatty acid esters: oleate (O), linoleate (L), arachidonate (A), and columbinate (C) for 10 d. The 24-h urine collections from each animal, collected 3 d before supplementations and again the last 3 d of the 10-d supplementation period, were analyzed for volume, and by radioimmunoassay for arginine-vasopressin (AVP) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Linoleate and arachidonate supplements both decreased the initial high urinary AVP excretion, whereas it was further increased by the oleate supplement. There was no effect of columbinate supplementation on urinary AVP excretion. Urinary PGE2 excretion was increased ca. twofold by both linoleate and oleate supplements, increased ca. fivefold by arachidonate supplementation but was unaffected by columbinate supplementation. There was no effect of any of the supplemented fatty acids on urine output. Fatty acid analysis of total kidney lipids revealed a low percentage of 20:3(n-9) in the rats supplemented with (n-6) fatty acid (L, A and C). The triene-tetraene ratio was 1.8 +/- 0.6 (n = 6) in the kidneys of the oleate-supplemented rats. No relationship was found between urinary PGE2 excretion and the percentage of arachidonate or the ratio of 20:3 (n-9)/20:4(n-6) in total kidney lipids. It is suggested that increased urinary AVP excretion in EFA-deficient rats is mainly caused by a change in the renal excretatory mechanism of AVP rather than reflecting an increased plasma AVP concentration. Furthermore it is suggested that renal PGE2 synthesis in vivo is unaffected by high levels of 20:3(n-9) in kidney lipids.     

A glucomannan and chitosan fiber supplement decreases plasma cholesterol and increases cholesterol excretion in overweight normocholesterolemic humans

OBJECTIVE: Both chitosan and glucomannan have demonstrated hypocholesterolemic effects. A recent study in rats indicates that the combination of the two is also a potent hypocholesterolemic agent that increases fecal fat excretion. The objective of the present study was to determine the hypocholesterolemic effect of a supplement containing equal amounts of chitosan and glucomannan on blood lipid concentrations and fecal excretion of fat, neutral sterols and bile acids. METHODS: Twenty-one overweight normocholesterolemic subjects (11 males and 10 females) were fed 2.4 g/day of a supplement containing equal amounts of chitosan and glucomannan. Prior to taking the supplement (initial period) and after 28 days (final period), blood was drawn for measurement of serum lipids and a three-day fecal sample collected for determination of fat, neutral sterol and bile acid excretion. Subjects maintained their normal dietary and activity patterns during the study. RESULTS: Caloric intake and intake of fat and dietary fiber (excluding the supplement) did not differ between the initial and final periods. Serum total, HDL and LDL cholesterol concentrations were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the final period compared to the initial period. Serum triacylglycerol concentration did not change between periods. There was a trend towards greater fecal excretion of neutral sterols and bile acids (p = 0.13 and 0.16, respectively) in the final period. However, fecal fat excretion did not differ between periods. CONCLUSIONS: Serum cholesterol reduction by a chitosan/glucomannan supplement is likely mediated by increased fecal steroid excretion and is not linked to fat excretion.     

The influence of the dietary ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids on zinc metabolism

Four diets differing in the ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) to saturated fatty acid (SFA) were consumed by four groups of rats for eight weeks. The PUFA/SFA ratios were 0.02, 0.13, 0.80 and 8.19. An isotope-dilution technique was used to determine true absorption and intestinal excretion of endogenous zinc. No statistically significant differences in true absorption were noted among the groups. Intestinal excretion of endogenous zinc, serum zinc, total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol concentrations were lowest in the group consuming diets with a PUFA/SFA of 0.13. Liver and kidney zinc concentrations tended to be higher in this same group. For all rats, total and HDL-cholesterol were both significantly related to intestinal excretion of endogenous zinc (positively) and percent true absorption of zinc (negatively). The serum HDL/total cholesterol ratio was positively correlated with serum zinc and liver zinc concentrations. Our results suggest that endogenous cholesterol metabolism influences zinc metabolism.     

The hypocholesterolemic effect of extracellular polysaccharide from the submerged fermentation of mushroom

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed two semisynthetic diets supplemented with 2% cholesterol and 1% β-glucan type extracellular polysaccharide isolated from two liquid cultures of straw mushroom (Volvariella volvacea) mycelium containing different carbon sources. The experimental diets containing the two mycelial extracellular polysaccharides had induced a significant reduction in the levels of serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and liver total cholesterol in the animals. There was no significant changes in the concentrations of serum triacylglycerol, HDL-cholesterol and liver total lipids. The fecal neutral steroid level was significantly increased while the fecal bile acid excretion was not significantly affected. Both mycelial extracellular polysaccharides exhibited hypocholesterolemic activity in rats with alimentary-induced hypercholesterolemia.     

Fecal steroid excretion is increased in rats by oral administration of gymnemic acids contained in Gymnema sylvestre leaves.

Gymnemic acids are the saponins with a triterpenoid structure contained in Gymnema sylvestre leaves and have the hypoglycemic effects. In spite of the cholesterol-binding properties of saponins, the effect of gymnemic acids on cholesterol metabolism has not been elucidated to date. We investigated the effects of gymnemic acids on fecal steroid excretion in rats. Three kinds of extracts from Gymnema sylvestre leaves, extract (GSE), acid precipitate (GSA) and column fractionate (GSF), of which the gymnemagenin (an aglycone of gymnemic acids) concentrations are 58.87, 161.6, and 363.3 mg/g respectively, were used for the experiments. These were administered to rats orally at the dose of 0.05-1.0 g/kg for 22 d. Rats were given free access to water and nonpurified diet without cholesterol, and the differences in fecal excretion of steroids and gymnemic acids were investigated. Although there were no significant effects of GSE, GSA and GSF decreased body weight gain and food intakes in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.01). GSF (1.0 g/kg) significantly increased fecal excretion of neutral steroids and bile acids in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05), especially those of cholesterol and cholic acid (CA)-derived bile acids. The increases in fecal steroid excretion of cholesterol, total neutral steroids, total bile acids and CA-related bile acids were acute and significantly correlated with fecal gymnemagenin levels (r2 = 0.2316-0.9861, P < 0. 05). These results demonstrated for the first time that a high dose of gymnemic acids increases fecal cholesterol and CA-derived bile acid excretion. Further studies are needed to clarify the effect of gymnemic acids on cholesterol metabolism.