[Effects of caprylic acid, capric acid or stearic acid on exogenous cholesterol absorption in intestine of ApoE~(-/-) mice].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate caprylic acid( C8 ∶ 0), capric acid( C10 ∶ 0)or stearic acid( C18∶ 0) on the absorption of exogenous cholesterol in mice.

METHODS: ApoE-/-mice were randomly divided into 3 groups: 2% caprylic acid( C8 ∶ 0), capric acid( C10∶ 0) or stearic acid( C18∶ 0) were fed with high cholesterol diet for 16 weeks. Serum lipids and lipoproteins were measured at the beginning of the experiment, the 8 th week and the 16 th week. At 16 th weeks of intervention, 1 h and 4 h after ~3H-cholesterol intragastric administration, the contents of ~3H-cholesterol in the jejunum, ileum and colon contents of mice were intragastric measured. Also the levels of ~3H-cholesterol in blood of0. 5 h, 1 h, 2 h and 4 h after administration were measured.

RESULTS: Serum TC and LDL-c in the C8∶ 0 group were significantly lower than those in the C18: 0 group at the 8 th week of intervention( P < 0. 01). Serum TC and LDL-c levels of the both C8∶ 0 group and C10∶ 0 group were significantly lower than those in the C18 ∶ 0 group at the 16 th week( P < 0. 01). The contents of ~3H-cholesterol in the jejunum of mice in C8 ∶ 0 group were significantly lower than those in C18 ∶ 0 group after 1 h of ~3H-cholesterol intragastric administration( P < 0. 05). The contents of ~3H-cholesterol in the colon contents of mice in C8∶ 0 group were significantly higher than those in C18∶ 0 group after 1 h( P < 0. 05) and4 h( P < 0. 01) of ~3H-cholesterol intragastric administration. The ~3H-cholesterol content in blood in C8∶ 0 group were significantly lower than those in C18∶ 0 group after 0. 5 h and 2 h of intragastric administration( P < 0. 01). And the area under the curve( AUC) of ~3H-cholesterol in blood after 4 h of intragastric administration in C8∶ 0 group were significantly lower than those in C18 ∶ 0 group( P < 0. 05).

CONCLUSION: Caprylic acid could reduce the absorption of exogenous cholesterol in the intestinal tract and improve blood cholesterol metabolism of mice.