Influence of Dietary Carbohydrates on Serum Cholesterol Levels in Albino Rats

Abstract

The inluence of different carbohydrates like corn starch, tapioca starch, potato starch, sucrose and rice starch in combination with different dietary proteins (casein, ground nut protein and muscle protein from rohu (Labeo rohita) on the serum cholesterol levels in albino rats fed on a low fat diet was studied, over a period of one month. Under these conditions sucrose was the least atherogenic of all the carbohydrates tried whereas potato starch led to higher levels of serum cholesterol in combination with all proteins used. Rice starch had good cholesterol lowering properties in combination with all proteins. But this could be partially due to the protein content of the rice flour used. The effect of different carbohydrates varied depending upon the level of fat in diet, the protein component and also the length of feeding time and any conclusions drawn should take all these factors into consideration.