H. Yamaguchi et al., CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING ACTIVITY OF LINEAR-TYPE AND GEL-TYPE SODIUM POLYACRYLATE AS DIETARY FIBER MODELS, Journal of nutritional biochemistry, 8(6), 1997, pp. 351-354
Effects of linear- and gel-type (cross-linked) sodium polyacrylate and
partially desalted sodium polyacrylates on serum cholesterol levels w
ere investigated in rats fed cholesterol-free diets. Gel-type sodium p
olyacrylate had the lowest serum cholesterol concentration among the e
xperimental groups. In the case of partially desalted gel-type sodium
polyacrylate, the serum cholesterol-lowering effect was not found. It
was thought that the water-holding capacity caused the cholesterol-low
ering activity. The linear-type sodium polyacrylate and partially desa
lted ones reduced the serum cholesterol levels significantly (P<0.05).
The effects of the degree of polymerization of linear-type sodium pol
yacrylates on serum cholesterol levels were observed, but the differen
ces among them were not significant (P<0.05). In the case of linear-ty
pe sodium polyacrylate, their viscosity was more effective on choleste
rol lowering than water-holding capacity was. Diets of 1% sodium polya
crylates did not approximately affect the body weight gain and viscera
l organ weight. (C) Elsevier Science Inc. 1997.