Effect of four natural sources of soluble fibres on serum cholesterol level in rats

ABSTRACT

Work carried out to investigate the effect of diets containing natural sources of soluble-fibre showed significant reduction of serum cholesterol levels in rats. The fibre sources were gum hashab [gum H], gum ta [gum T], psyllium and okra [dry] "Weika". The period of the study in the three experiments was six weeks. Three experiments were carried out on rats that consumed diets containing high fat, high fat and 0.1% cholesterol and parboiled psyllium or okra. In addition these diets contained the four natural soluble fibres under investigation. The results showed interesting variations in percentages of reduction with different fibre sources, the maximum reduction of cholesterol 84% occurring in diets containing high fat, 0.1% cholesterol and 3% psyllium at the fourth week