Effect of Chlorella intake on Cadmium metabolism in rats

This study was performed to investigate the effect of chlorella on cadmium (Cd) toxicity in Cd- administered rats. Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats (14 week-old) were blocked into 6 groups. Cadmium chloride was given at levels of 0 or 325 mg (Cd: 0, 160 ppm), and chlorella powder at levels of 0, 3 and 5%. Cadmium was accumulated in blood and tissues (liver, kidney and small intestine) in the Cd-exposed groups, while the accumulation of Cd was decreased in the Cd-exposed chlorella groups. Fecal and urinary Cd excretions were remarkably increased in Cd-exposed chlorella groups. Thus, cadmium retention ratio and absorption rate were decreased in the Cd exposed chlorella groups. Urinary and serum creatinine, and creatinine clearance were not changed in experimental animals. In addition, metallothionein (MT) synthesis in tissues was increased by Cd administration. The Cd-exposed chlorella groups indicated lower MT concentration compared to the Cd-exposed groups. Moreover, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was not changed by dietary chlorella and Cd administration. According to the results above, this study could suggest that Cd toxicity can be alleviated by increasing Cd excretion through feces. Therefore, when exposed to Cd, chlorella is an appropriate source which counteracts heavy metal poisoning, to decrease the damage of tissues by decreasing cadmium absorption.

Effect of Feeding with Different Source of Carbohydrate and HCA on Body Weight Gain and Lipid Metabolism in Rats

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding different carbohydrate sources and garcinia cambogia extract (HCA) on body weight and lipid metabolism. Fifty 10-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats weighting 635 +/- 6 g were randomly divided into 5 groups and fed different experimental diets for 4 weeks. The carbohydrate (CHO) sources of each group were cornstarch (control group, 100% of CHO), fructose (F group and FH group, 25% of CHO) and sucrose (S group and SH group, 25% of CHO). FH group and SH group were fed diets containing 1% (W/W) of HCA. Food intake, body weight gain, and calorie efficiency were not significantly different among the groups. Perirenal fat pad weight of FH group was significantly lower than F group, but epididymal fat pad weight was not different among the groups. Fasting glucose level were not significant among the groups. Plasma lipid profile of FH or SH group was slightly lower than F or S group, respectively. The degree of difference of plasma lipid level was greater between F and FH group than those of between S and SH group. In liver, total lipid, triglyceride and total cholesterol level were slightly higher in F group than S group, and tended to be lower in FH group than F group, but tended to be higher in SH group than S group. Liver citrate lyase activity were not significant among the groups. These results suggest that HCA is potential material for reduction of body weight and improvement of plasma lipid profiles. But, there was no difference between fructose intake with HCA and sucrose intake with HCA in reduction of body weight and lipid metabolism.