The feeding of a fish extract, prepared by extracting whole fish with
80% ethanol, prevented abdominal, thoracic aorta and coronary atheroma
in cholesterol-fed rabbits. Daily fish extract feeding reduced serum
cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels by 41.8 and 38.0%, respectively
. In addition, triglyceride levels were reduced by 52.8%. Hepatic and
aortic contents of cholesterol and phospholipids approached normal lev
els in cholesterol-fed rabbits on the fish extract diet. Fish extract
feeding induced a greater fecal excretion of cholesterol. Plaque forma
tion was very little or absent in the aorta of fish-fed rabbits.