Lipid components prepared from a freshwater Clam (Corbicula fluminea) extract ameliorate hypercholesterolaemia in rats fed high-cholesterol diet

► Two (FF1, FF2) fat subfractions of freshwater clam reduced cholesterol in rats. ► Both FF1 and FF2 up-regulated the hepatic gene expression of CYP7A1. ► FF1 is mainly sphingolipids, and FF2 are mainly triacylglycerols and sterol esters. ► This suggests the clam exert hypocholesterolaemic action through a novel manner.