INFLUENCE OF DIETARY PECTIN ON THE HEPATIC LEVELS OF REDUCED GLUTATHIONE AND ON LIPID PEROXIDE FORMATION IN MICE

In order to establish if dietary pectin could influence the levels of hepatic reduced glutathione (GSH) and the rate of lipid peroxide forma tion, we fed 8 male Balb C mice for 14 days with a standard powder die t supplemented with 5% highly methoxylated apple pectin. Another 8 mic e received the standard powder diet only and served as controls. The a nimals were killed on the 15th day. The levels of GSH and lipid peroxi des expressed in terms of malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined in liv er homogenates. Besides, parameters that could be related to GSH metab olism or lipid peroxidation, such as the activity of gamma-glutamyl tr ansferase (gamma-GT) and the content of iron, were assessed as well. I n pectin-fed animals gamma-GT activity was decreased (p<0.01), whereas the level of hepatic GSH was elevated (p<0.001). A negative correlati on was established between both parameters. GSH correlated also negati vely with lipid peroxides, which were reduced. Iron content was only s lightly decreased. The data obtained suggest that the pectin-enriched diet could influence the antioxidant processes in the liver, increasin g GSH levels (at least partially by lowering gamma-GT activity) and re ducing the formation of lipid peroxides.