Cholesterol-lowering effects of maitake (Grifola frondosa) fiber, shiitake(Lentinus edodes) fiber, and enokitake (Flammulina velutipes) fiber in rats

The effects of mushroom fibers on serum cholesterol and hepatic low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor mRNA in rats were investigated. Rats were fed a cholesterol-free diet with 50 g/kg cellulose powder (CP), 50 g/kg maitake (Grifola frondosa) fiber (MAF), 50 g/kg shiitake (Lentinus edodes) fiber (S F), or 50 g/kg enokitake (Flammulina velutipes) fiber (EF) for 4 weeks. The re were no significant differences in the body weight, food intake, liver w eight, cecum weight, and cecum pH among the groups. Cecal acetic acid, buty ric acid, and total short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations in the SF and EF groups were significantly higher than those in the other groups. The serum total cholesterol concentration in the CP group was significantly hi gher than that in the MAF and EF groups. The very LDL (VLDL) + intermediate -density lipoprotein (IDL) + LDL-cholesterol concentration in the CP group was significantly higher than that in the MAF, SF, and EF groups, whereas t he high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol concentration in the EF group was significantly lower than that in the other groups at the end of the 4- week feeding period. The hepatic LDL receptor mRNA level in the EF group wa s significantly higher than that in the CP group. The fecal cholesterol exc retion in the MAF, SF, and EF groups was significantly higher than that in the CP group. The results of this study demonstrate that MAF and EF lowered the serum total cholesterol level by enhancement of fecal cholesterol excr etion, and in particular, by enhancement of hepatic LDL receptor mRNA in EF group.