Antihyperlipidemic effects of hydroxyethyl methylcellulose with varying viscosity in mice fed with high fat diet

The effect of dietary feeding of hydroxyethyl methylcellulose (HEMC) with different viscosities on the body weight and lipid metabolism in high fat-fed mice was investigated. The animals were given normal control diet (NC group), high fat diet (HF group), and high fat diet supplemented with HEMC with high (HF-HV), moderate (HF-MV), or low (HF-LV) viscosity for 6 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, the HF groups showed a marked increase in body weight and fat, plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol concentrations, and free fatty acid levels and a significant decrease in HDL-cholesterol concentration relative to the control group. However, addition of HEMC in the diet counteracted this high fat-induced hyperlipidemia via inhibition of lipogenesis and regulation of adipokine production. The antihyperlipidemic effect increased with increased viscosity of the HEMC consumed. This study illustrate that HEMC with high viscosity may be effective in lowering the risk of hyperlipidemia and obesity under high fat diet condition. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.