Effects of spent brewer's yeast and biological β-glucans on selected parameters of lipid metabolism in blood and liver in rats

Abstract

The influence of model atherogenic diet enriched with dried, spent brewer's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae or insoluble β-glucans, isolated from these yeast on selected indices of lipid metabolism was studied in 4 groups of 7-8 growing rats. Animals were fed a control diet (without any supplements) or diet enriched with spent brewer's yeast (daily dose: 50 mg/kg of body mass) and β-glucans (daily dose 10 or 100 mg/kg of body mass) for 6 weeks. The diets supplemented with both additives were more effective in lowering concentration of serum total cholesterol as well as LDL-cholesterol and triacylglycerols in experimental rats than the control diet. In conclusion, feeding rats with dried, spent brewer's yeast or β-glucans may significantly reduce cholesterol accumulation in liver.