• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.133-138
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• 2002

To examine the cholesterol-towering effects of extruded products made with cassava starch (CS) and blends of cassava starch with either resistant starch (CS-RS) or oat fiber (CS-OF) hamsters were fed with diets containing a high-cholesterol (2%) and high-fat (17%) diet for 20 days. Hamsters fed with a diet containing no cholesterol were used as a control. Total cholesterol (TC) levels in the CS-RS and CS-OF groups were significantly (p>0.05) lower compared to the CS group by 11.5% and 8.5%, respectively. Also, the diets containing fibers decreased the value of low-density lipoproteins plus very low-density lipoproteins fraction by 32.4% (CS-RS diet) and 51.7% (CS-OF), respectively, as compared to the CS diet. Total lipid values were significantly (p<0.05) lower in hamsters fed the CS-RS diet (916 mg/dL) and CS-OF diet (964 mg/dL) as compared to those fed the CS diet (1661 mg/dL). The results obtained in this study suggest that extruded products containing cassava starch blended with either resistant starch or oat fleer, could prevent health problems associated with high levels of cholesterol and hypertriglyceridemia induced by a high cholesterol and fat diet.