Effects of Euglena dry cells on the absorption and metabolism of cholesterol were studied with rats by comparing the Euglena-diet, in which 75% of total protein was replaced with Euglena dry cells, with a casein diet. No significant difference was found between the Euglena-diet and the casein-diet groups in body weight and relative weight of organs. Excretion of [14C]-labeled-cholesterol to feces was more in the Euglena-diet group than in the casein-diet group and retention time of cholesterol in digestive tract was shorter in the Euglena-diet group than in the casein-diet group, resulting in low tissue-distribution of cholesterol radioactivity in the Euglena-diet group. No significant difference was found between these two groups in tissue-distribution ratio of absorbed labeled-cholesterol radioactivity.
Stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) were fed a diet based on Euglena dry cells (Euglena gracilis z) as a protein source from 5 weeks of age, and observed until natural death or sacrifice at 35 weeks of age in order to examine the effects of the diet on blood pressure, incidence of cerebral stroke lesions and life-span.The results were as follows : (1) The Euglena diet had no significant effect on blood pressure, but obvious prolongation of life-span was observed. The incidence of cerebral stroke and hypertensive vascular lesions was somewhat lower than in control rats. (2) In the Euglena diet group sacrificed at 35 weeks of age, a reduced incidence of cerebral stroke lesions, a lower incidence hypertensive vascular lesions in the kidneys, testes and adrenals, suppressed elevation of plasma renin activity (PRA), and a less marked decrease in the elastin content of the aorta were recognized.Moreover, this group showed fewer changes in electron microscopical findings in the mesenteric arteries.(3) The lipid peroxide level (TBARS value) in the serum of the control group showed an increase after 15 weeks of age when cerebral vascular lesions began to develop, but that in the Euglena diet group remained almost unchanged.These results suggest that the effect of a Euglena diet in prolonging the life-span of SHRSP might be due to delayed aging or destruction of elastic fibers of the aorta.
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