THE EFFECT OF DRIED TOMATO, GRAPE AND APPLE POMACE ON THE CHOLESTEROL-METABOLISM AND ANTIOXIDATIVE ENZYMATIC SYSTEM IN RATS WITH HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA

The effect of dried tomato, grape and apple pomace (5% in diet) on the cholesterol levels in serum and selected or ans was studied in male W istar rats fed a cholesterol diet (0.3%) shortly after weaning. Pomace of individual fruits contained 47.2, 67.0 and 46.2 g of total dietary fiber per 100 g of dry matter for tomato, grape and apple pomace, res pectively. Corresponding values for the soluble components of the fibe r were 10.3, 14.7 and 26.0%. None of the tested products affected the serum cholesterol levels. Tomato and apple pomace significantly reduce d cholesterol level in liver by 15% and 11%, respectively, and all tes ted pomace species reduced cholesterol content in heart (by 18-21%). T riacylglycerol content was affected only by tomato pomace and solely i n the heart. Cholesterol absorption measured by dual-isotope ratio met hod, was not significantly affected by the pomace, however, all produc ts strongly reduced (up to the half of the original value) the activit y of HMG-CoA reductase in liver and increased the fractional catabolic rate of plasma cholesterol (by 60-120%). All tested pomace reduced pl asma levels of conjugated dienes and tomato and grape pomace exhibited this effect also in the liver. All tested pomace reduced the activiti es of antioxidant enzymes superoxid dismutase, catalase and glutathion e peroxidase in erythrocytes (by 34-56%).