EFFECT OF DIETARY ADDITION OF MYOINOSITOL ON LIPID-METABOLISM IN RATS FED SUCROSE OR CORN STARCH

The effect of dietary addition of myo-inositol on lipid metabolism was examined in rats fed diets containing either sucrose or corn starch for 16-17 days. Sucrose-fed rats showed significant increases in hepatic weight, total lipids, triglyceride, cholesterol and serum triglyceride, accompanied by the activities of hepatic glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PG, EC 1.1.1.49) and nalic enzyme (ME, EC 1.1.1.40), compared to rats fed corn starch diet. The increases in these parameters due to sucrose feeding were clearly depressed by dietary myo-inositol. Sucrose intake also increased serum level of phospholipid, but the effect was not influenced by dietary myo-inositol. In the animals fed corn starch, dietary myo-inositol had no apparent effect on lipid metabolic parameters mentioned above. These results suggest that an exogenous source of myo-inositol may be of importance to animals fed sucrose when compared to rats fed corn starch.