Effect of onion powder supplementation on lipid metabolism in high fat-cholesterol fed SD rats

This study was performed to examine the effects of onion powder supplementation on lipid metabolism in male SD rats fed a high fat and high cholesterol diet. Experimental groups were control (C), high fat fed group (HF), high fat+onion powder intake (OP), high fat+quercetin intake (Q). The HF diet contained 1% cholesterol, 4% lard, 0.3% Na-taurocholate, and quercetin supplementation level was 0.1 g/kg diet. The OP group showed lower body weight gains compared to the control, while there was no significant difference in food efficiency ratio efficiency. When the proportion of fecal bile acids per total lipids was calculated, there was a significant decrease in the HF group compared to the control group, while the levels of the control group was same as that of the OP group. There was no significant difference between the HF and Q groups in bile acid/total lipid in feces. The amount of total cholesterol in liver increased significantly in HF group compared to the control group, while total cholesterol decreased significantly in the OP group compared to the HF group. There was a significant decrease in GOT (glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase) activity in OP and Q groups compared to the HF group. In conclusion, feeding onion powder to hyperlipidemic rates appeared to control weight gain, significantly lower the level of total cholesterol in the liver, and recover GOT activity. We also demonstrated that onion powder intake was more effective than quercetin intake.