(+)-Catechin is a Potent Inhibitor of Intestinal Absorption of Cholesterol in Rats

Catechins exhibit a hypocholesterolemic effect in cholesterol-fed animals. The present study was conducted to examine whether (+)-catechin influences the absorption of cholesterol in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed ad libitum an AIN-93G diet containing soybean oil for 5 wk. Rats with lymph cannulae were infused at 3.0 mL/h for 8 h via a duodenal catheter with a lipid emulsion containing radiolabeled cholesterol with or without (+)-catechin. Lymph was collected hourly for 8 h. The enteral infusion of (+)-catechin significantly lowered the lymphatic absorption of $^{14}$ C-cholesterol (21.1 $\pm$ 3.6% dose/B h) compared with controls infused with the lipid emulsion devoid of (+)-catechin (38.2 $\pm$ 1.2% dose/8 h). The intestinal absorption of $\alpha$-tocopherol (24.2$\pm$3.0% dose/8 h) also was significantly decreased by (+)-catechin infusion, relative to controls (32.2$\pm$2.2% dose/8 h). However, the lymphatic outputs of oleic acid and phospholipid were not affected by enteral (+)-catechin infusion. The results indicate that (+)-catechin has a profound inhibitory effect on the intestinal absorption of cholesterol and $\alpha$-tocopherol without affecting the absorption of fat.