HYPOCHOLESTEROLEMIC EFFECT OF POTATO PEELS AS A DIETARY FIBER SOURCE

This study was undertaken to determine whether potato peels, as a sour ce of dietary fibre, exert a hypocholesterolaemic effect on rats fed c holesterol-rich diet. Male rats were fed diets containing 1% cholester ol and 0.2% cholic acid with either 6% cellulose or potato peels as th e fibre source. The present study demonstrates for the first time the in vivo hypocholesterolaemic influence of potato peels. After 4 weeks, rats fed potato peels showed a 40% decrease in plasma cholesterol con tent and a reduction of 30% in hepatic fat cholesterol levels as compa red with rats fed cellulose. Our data indicate that potato peels might be considered as a source of dietary fibres for human consumption.