Influence of riboflavin, choline, inositol and niacin on the hepatic biosynthesis of cholesterol of albino rats kept on a high cholesterol diet.

Influence of Riboflavin, Choline, Inositol and Niacin on the Hepatic Biosynthesis of Cholesterol of Albino Rats Kept on a High Cholesterol Diet. The influence of high dose of riboflavin, Choline, Inositol and niacin on hepatic biosynthesis of cholesterol of albino rats receiving a high cholesterol diet was studied. The animals receiving high doses of riboflavin along with a high cholesterol diet for eight and 12 weeks showed less hepatic biosynthesis of cholesterol in vivo from acetate-1-14C than the animals receiving a high cholesterol diet. 4n the other hand, animals receiving high doses of niacin, Inositol and choline for 12 weeks along with a high cholesterol diet showed more incorporation of acetate 1-14C in liver cholesterol than animals receiving a high cholesterol diet. We have recently studied the effect of large doses of niacin and inositol upon the fecal excretion of cholesterol and bile acid of albino rats fed a high cholesterol diet. Niacin increased the fecal excretion of cholesterol without showing any ap preciable increase in the fecal excretion of bile acid. Inositol, on the other hand, increased appreciably the fecal excretion of bile acid without showing any increase in cholesterol excretion in feces. Both niacin and Inositol exerted cholesterol lowering effect in liver and blood of albino rats receiving high cholesterol diet (1). We have further observed that choline and riboflavin, when given in large doses to albino rats fed on a high cholesterol diet, have similar cholesterol lowering effect in the liver and blood. Choline was found to increase the fecal excretion of bile acid without showing any appreciable increase in the excretion of cholesterol in feces. Riboflavin was, however, found to have no influence on increase or decrease in the excretion of cholesterol and bile acid in the feces of the animals fed a high cholesterol diet (2). Schon (3) demonstrated that the in vitro formation of total hepatic cholesterol was depressed proportionately to the amount of niacin fed to rats. It is likely that the hypocholesterolemic action of choline , Inositol and riboflavin observed in our previous investigations may be due to the depressed hepatic bio synthesis of cholesterol. It was, therefore, thought worthwhile to investigate the effect of the dietary high intake of riboflavin, choline, inositol and niacin on the in vitro synthesis of hepatic cholesterol of albino rats kept on a high cholesterol diet. 204 Vol. 15 EFFECT OF VITAMINS ON CHOLESTEROL BIOSYNTHESIS 205 …