Improved hypolipidemic effects of xanthan gum-galactomannan mixtures in rats

This study describes the effects of mixtures of xanthan gum and galactomann an, guar gum, or locust bean gum, on the lipids in plasma and liver in non- diabetic and diabetic rats. Non-diabetic rats were fed cholesterol-free die ts with 3% guar gum, locust bean gum, or xanthan gum (3G, 3L, and 3X), or a mixture of xanthan gum and guar gum or locust bean gum (1:2, w/w) (2G1X, 2 L1X) for 2 weeks. Rats fed diets not containing these polysaccharides were used as controls. The total cholesterol in plasma and the triacylglycerol i n liver were significantly lowered in rats fed the 2G1X diet. The 3G, 3X, 3 L, and 2L1X diets showed no significant effect on the total cholesterol and triacylglycerol in plasma and liver. In the streptozotocin-induced (STZ) d iabetic rats, the total cholesterol in plasma was lowered in rats fed the 3 G, 3X or 2G1X diet for 4 weeks, and the 2G1X diet was more effective than t he 3G and 3X diets. The triacylglycerol in plasma in STZ diabetic rats was also significantly lowered by the 2G1X diet. These results showed that a mi xture of xanthan gum and guar gum has an improved hypolipidemic effect on n on-diabetic and STZ diabetic rats. The effects of the 2G1X diet on the diab etic symptoms in STZ diabetic rats, suppression of food and water intakes, decrease in glucose in urine, and lowering of plasma glucose, were also obs erved.