EFFECTS OF OAT-BRAN CONCENTRATE ON RAT SERUM-LIPIDS AND LIVER FAT INFILTRATION

Oat bran concentrated with respect to both soluble and insoluble dieta ry fibre was fed to adult rats, and its effects on serum cholesterol a nd liver fat infiltration were studied. The feeds contained 15, 30 or 45 g beta-glucan/kg, except in control groups where the fibre of the f eed was cellulose. Half the experimental groups received the feeds wit h an addition of 10 g cholesterol and 2 g cholic acid/kg in order to c reate an hypercholesterolaemic condition. In normocholesterolaemic rat s the concentrated oat bran did not cause any significant changes in s erum cholesterol concentrations, but reduced liver weight compared wit h control group rats fed on the cellulose-containing diet. In hypercho lesterolaemic rats the concentrated oat bran reduced serum total chole sterol and increased high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol concentratio n. The effect was seen already at the 15 g/kg concentration of beta-gl ucan, the higher doses tested did not significantly improve the effect . Infiltration of fat into liver cells, especially in the periportal a reas, was observed only in hypercholesterolaemic animals. The fat infi ltration was accentuated in proportion to the amount of oat-bran conce ntrate fed.