The present work aimed to investigate the effect of pineapple residue on total cholesterol levels, HDL-cholesterol and LDL- cholesterol of rats in comparison with the citric pectin, and to verify the rats behavior in relation to the food intake and weight gain at 15, 30 e 45 days. Residue diets provided higher food consumption when compared to the pectin diets. The highest weight gains was observed for the following control-diets and 10% of residue at 15 and 30 days, and at 45 days only for control-diet. Residue provided intermediate weight gains and the pectin the smallest weight gain. Pectin treatments were more effective in the reduction of the total cholesterol; however, at 15 days, the diets with 10% and 15% of residue, at 30 days the diet with 10% of residue, and all the residue diets at 45 days. Plasmatic concentration of the HDL-cholesterol was increased in almost all the diets, except for the diet with 25% of pectin, which reduced this level at 15 days, and at 30 days maintained it equal to that of control diet. Residue diets provided both reduction and maintenance of HDL-cholesterol levels at 45 days when compared to the CONTROL-diet. O LDL-cholesterol was reduced in all treatments, principally to the pectin diets.
residue; pineapple tree; citric pectin; cholesterol; rat
