Effect of a long-chained fructan Raftiline HP on blood lipids and spontaneous atherosclerosis in low density receptor knockout mice

The effect of a long-chained fructan Raftiline HP on spontaneous hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis was studied in 40 LDLR-/- male mice receiving isocaloric, balanced in fat content, purified diets with 0 or 10% Raftiline HP, for 16 weeks. The feed intake was comparable (3.9 v. 3.8 g/day) but the terminal body weight was lower in the Raftiline HP group (36 v. 32g, p<0.01). After 3 weeks of treatment, and throughout the study, mice receiving Raftiline HP had statistically significantly lower plasma cholesterol (9.12 v. 6.41 mmol/l, at termination) and its concentrations in LDL (2.36 v. 1.7 mmol/1), IDL (1.27 v. 0.77 mmol/1) and VLDL (1.53 v. 0.96 mmol/l) but not in HDL (1.13 v. 1.11). Plasma triglycerides were comparable between the groups (L.14 v. 1.04 mmol/l, at termination). The ratio intima/media was 15% lower (0.089 v. 0.076), although not statistically significantly different. In conclusion, the findings of this study emphasize the cholesterol lowering potential of inulin. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.