Hypolipidemic Effects of Soybean Fermentation Broth Combined with Saponins in a Syrian Golden Hamster Model of Hyperlipidemia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to verify the beneficial hypolipidemic effect of commercial soya bean fermentation broth with saponins (SFBS) in hamsters with hyperlipidemia induced by 0.2% cholesterol (high-fat [HF] diet). Male Golden Syrian hamsters were randomly divided into two groups: control (standard diet, n=8) and experimental (HF diet, n=32). After one-week acclimatization, all animals in the experimental group fed with the HF diet for 8 weeks. The 32 hyperlipidemic hamsters were divided into four groups (n=8 per group), and with 3 mg/day/kg ezetimibe or 350 mg/kg/day (SAP350) or 700 mg/kg/day (SAP700) SFBS by oral gavage over the 8 weeks or HF diet only. After 8 weeks, the SFBS significantly decreased serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations by about 20% (SAP350) and 42% (SAP700), respectively, compared with the HF diet without SFBS or with ezetimibe (3 mg/kg/day). We propose that the SFBS might be reducing the serum cholesterol level by increasing fecal excretion of cholesterol and bile acids by about 20% and 35%, respectively. The results of biochemical analysis of kidney and liver function in the experimental animals suggested that there were no side effects of SFBS feeding for 8 weeks.