Influence of Milk and Thermophilus Milk on Plasma Cholesterol Levels and Hepatic Cholesterogenesis in Rats

Three experiments were conducted to study the effect of milk, Thermophilus milk and methanol solubles of milk and Thermophilus milk on the plasma cholesterol levels and hepatic cholesterogenesis using laboratory rats. In experiment I, white Wistar male rats of 328g initial average weight were assigned to three dietary treatments consisting of: (1) commercial rat chow + water, (2) commercial rat chow + skim milk, and (3) commercial rat chow + Thermophilus milk. In the second experiment, the methanol solubles of whole milk and Thermophilus milk were given by gastric intubation to white Wistar male rats in six treatment groups. The methanol solubles were given at levels of 1 ml and 2 ml, and the control groups received similar quantities of H 2 O. In the third experiment, liver tissue from white Wistar male rats was used to study the in vitro hepatic cholesterol synthesis. Consumption of Thermophilus milk by the rats in experiment 1 resulted in a significant decrease in plasma cholesterol levels, The liver cholesterol levels were lower in the group receiving Thermophilus milk than the group receiving skim milk. Similar results were seen with feeding of methanol solubles. The in vitro hepatic cholesterogenesis was inhibited by methanol solubles from milk and Thermophilus milk, the inhibition being much more with methanol solubles from Thermophilus milk. The metabolites produced during fermentation of milk may be responsible for the hypocholesterolemic effect of Thermophilus milk.