• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.622-633
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• 1997

This study was to investigate the effects of chitin, chitosan , NOCC and cellulose on cadmium toxicity and lipid metabolism in rats. Fifty male rats of Sprague-Dawley strain weighing 155$\pm$17g were divided into 10 groups according to body weight, and were raised for 5 weeks. Levels of 0 and 400 ppm of cadmium chloride were in the diets. And chitin, chitosan , NOCC and cellulose were given at the level of 0 and 4%(w/w) of the diets. Chitosan and NOCC decreased Cd concentration of liver and kidney, and increased the fecal excretion of Cd. Although cellulose was less effective, cellulose also decreased Cd concentration of liver and increased fecal Cd excretion . However chitin had little effect on alleviating Cd toxicity. In addition, chitosan and NOCC lowered total lipid, cholesterol and triglyceride contents in serum and liver by decreasing the lipid absorption. The lowering of cholesterol especially had a remarkable effect. Although it was less effective than chitosan and NOCC, chitin decreased the lipid absorption ratio and lowered cholesterol contents in serum and liver. In conclusion , chitosan and NOCC showed effects of decreasing the absorption of Cd and lipid.