Effects of Cheonggukjang on Lipid Metabolism in Hyperlipidemic Female Rats

ABSTRACT

The effects of cheonggukjang (traditional fermented soybean food, CK) and cheonggukjang added Agaricus blazei (CKA) on lipid metabolism were investigated in female Sprague-Dawley rats (20 weeks old). The rats were fed a purified hyperlipidemic diet (control diet: 0.1% cholesterol, 10% fat, 18% casein) for 4 weeks. The rats were randomly assigned to each treatment group: control, two kinds of CK or CKA (powders of CK or CKA as dietary protein sources). After 8 weeks of experimental diets consumption, the body weights, and the uterine fat pad weights of CK and CKA diets groups were more significantly decreased than those of the control diet group. The liver cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly lower in both the CK and CKA diets groups than those in the control group. The concentrations in serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and atherogenic index ratios were significantly decreased in the CK and CKA diets groups compared with those in the control group. The HDL-cholesterol/total-cholesterol ratios were significantly increased in the CK and CKA diets groups compared with those in the control group. The fecal cholesterol and triglyceride excretion in the CK and CKA diets groups were more increased than those in the control group. These results showed that both the feeding the rats with cheonggukjang and cheonggukjang added Agaricus blazei decreased the triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in serum as well as the triglyceride and cholesterol in liver, and increased the HDL-cholesterol/ total-cholesterol ratio in serum.