Comparative Cholesterol-Lowering Activities of Various Kinds of Propylene Glycol Alginate

The hypocholesterolemic activities of sodium alginates or propylene glycol alginate with different viscosity and degree of esterification were examined in rats fed a hypercholesterolemic diet containing 1% cholesterol and 0.25% bile acids. As for the results, 5% high viscous sodium alginate markedly decreased the high level of serum and liver cholesterol induced by the hypercholesterolemic diet. However, low viscous sodium alginate did not show any hypocholesterolemic activity. As regards to propylene glycol alginates, the cholesterol depressing activity was increased in proportion to the degree of esterification. No correlation was observed between the viscosity of alginate derivatives and cholesterol lowering effects. The apparent accumulation ratio of liver cholesterol to the ingested cholesterol was suppressed in polymer fed rats.