Comparative evaluation of the hypolipidemic effects of hydroxyethyl methylcellulose (HEMC) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) in high fat-fed mice

The effect of hydroxyethyl methylcellulose (HEMC), in comparison with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), on the body weight and lipid metabolism in mice fed with high fat diet was investigated. The animals were given normal control diet (NC group), high fat diet (HF group), or high fat diet supplemented with either HEMC (HF + HEMC group) or HPMC (HF + HPMC group) for 6 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, both HF + HEMC and HF + HPMC groups showed reduced body weight, body fat, plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol contents, atherogenic index and free fatty acid level, and increased HDL-cholesterol concentration relative to the HF group. The hypolipidemic effect was partly due to the inhibition of lipogenesis and regulation of adipokine production. These findings demonstrate that compared with HPMC, HEMC was similarly effective in improving the lipid metabolism under high fat diet condition and may be useful in the prevention and treatment of high fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia.