EFFECT OF GUAR GUM AND TOCOTRIENOLS ON CHOLESTEROL-METABOLISM ON THE JAPANESE-QUAIL

The effects of dietary fibre (alpha-cellulose or guar gum) and tocotrienols from palm oil were studied in young and mature Japanese quail. The diets were based on ingredients of vegetable origin with equal amounts of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. In young quail, dietary guar gum plus tocotrienols was effective in reducing plasma cholesterol and liver size in comparison to quail fed alpha-cellulose. Tocotrienol had no effect on cholesterol metabolism when included in the alpha-cellulose treatment. In mature quail tocotrienols were not effective in reducing blood cholesterol. Neither guar gum nor tocotrienol altered the propensity of Japanese quail to develop atherosclerosis in the aortic arch. The Reflotron proved to be a good instrument for providing quick and reproducible results for blood cholesterol and the results are comparable to those obtained from analyses with an enzymatic kit. The small quantity (30-mu-l) of blood required for the Reflotron enables serial samples to be taken from small animals.