EFFECT OF THE OYSTER FUNGUS ON GLYCEMIA AND CHOLESTEROLEMIA IN RATS WITH INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES

We have investigated the effect of a diet containing of 4 % oyster fun gus (Pleurotus ostreatus) and 0.1 % cholesterol on glycaemia and hyper lipoproteinaemia in rats with insulin-dependent diabetes (streptozotoc in 45 mg/kg). After two months, the rats with diabetes kept on the oys ter fungus diet, had a significantly lower basal and postprandial glyc aemia, the insulinaemia remained unchanged. The cholesterol concentrat ion was decreased by more than 40 %, the lipoprotein profile was upgra ded by the decrease of the cholesterol in both the low density and ver y low density lipoproteins. The oyster fungus decreased the cholestero l accumulation in the liver and had no significant effects on the leve ls of serum and liver triacylglycerols.