Effect of heated Porphyra yezoensis powder on lipid absorption

Porphyra yezoensis (nori) is consumed as part of the traditional Japanese diet, and some studies have reported antihyperlipidemic effects associated with it. However, there has been no demonstration of the effects of nori on lipid absorption in a rat model. The triglyceride concentration of the serum of rats that were administered nori powder heated with oil (NARO) was higher than that of the control rats in the present study. The present study was undertaken to clarify the lipid proabsorptive effect of NARO. The results showed that nori boiled water extract and 75% ethanol extract did not promote pancreatic lipase activity. A polyethylene glycol solution with the same viscosity as NARO did not promote lipid absorption in the rat serum, and the lipid particle size of NARO was not smaller than that of other foods such as milk. Based on these facts, the reason contributing to the lipid proabsorptive effect of NARO remains unclear.