The effect of N-(α-methylbenzyl)linoleamide on cholesterol metabolism in rats

• (1)

  The effect of dl-N-(α-methylbenzyl) linoleamide (MBLA) and its optically active isomers (d-MBLA and l-MBLA) on cholesterol metabolism was studied in rats. After administering MBLA, d-MBLA and l-BMLA with [4-¹⁴C]cholesterol, total [4-¹⁴C]cholesterol levels in the plasma and liver, and its ester ratio in the liver were markedly depressed after 4 h. After 8 h, the same results were obtained, and the esterified [4-¹⁴C]cholesterol ratio in the small intestine was also depressed, but there was no significant difference after 24 h. The inhibitory effect on plasma and liver [4-¹⁴C]cholesterol pools was in the order d-MBLA > MBLA > l-MBLA.

• (2)

  The cholesterol-lowering effect of MBLA was not decreased after administering it for 4 weeks.

• (3)

  After administering MBLA, d-MBLA and l-MBLA with [³H] cholesterol to thoracic-duct fistula rats, total [³H]cholesterol levels and its ester ratio in lymph were markedly depressed for 24 h. These results suggest that the cholesterol-lowering mechanism of these compounds is due to reduced cholesterol absorption from the intestines.

• (4)

  Hepatic cholesterogenesis was accelerated when a diet containing 0.1 % of MBLA was administered for 1–2 weeks. The acceleration of cholesterol biosynthesis by inhibitors of cholesterol absorption is considered to be due to a homeostatic mechanism that maintains body cholesterol via a feedback control.