OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to observe the effects of partially hydrolyzed guar gum on cholesterol metabolism and atherosclerosis in the aorta of euglycemic and streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic LDL receptor deficient mice. METHODS: Thirty six LDL receptor deficient mice were divided into 4 groups of 9 animals: euglycemic groups fed on hypercholesterolemic diet without or supplemented with 7.5% of partially hydrolyzed guar gum and streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic groups also fed an atherogenic diet without or supplemented with 7.5% of partially hydrolyzed guar gum. After 4 weeks of experiment, food intake, body weight, glycemia, blood and liver cholesterol and atherosclerotic lesion in the aorta were determined. RESULTS: The results showed that partially hydrolyzed guar gum induced an increase in blood and liver cholesterol in euglycemic mice when compared with euglycemic control groups at the end of the experiment. On the other hand, although not affecting plasma cholesterol, hyperglycemic mice supplemented with partially hydrolyzed guar gum had the lesion area in the aorta significantly reduced. In hyperglycemic animals, plasma cholesterol did not decrease significantly but the lesion area in the aorta did. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that partially hydrolyzed guar gum can reduce the development of atherosclerosis associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus.
atherosclerosis; cholesterol; Diabetes Mellitus; dietary fiber
