Millet consumption decreased serum concentration of triglyceride and C-reactive protein but not oxidative status in hyperlipidemic rats

This study was undertaken to investigate the hypothesis that whole grain consumption would have beneficial effects on lipid profiles, antioxidant status, and the inflammation state of hyperlipidemic rats compared to those resulting from a white rice (WR) diet. Forty-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 24) were fed a high-fat diet (188.3 kJ% energy as fat) for 8 weeks to induce hyperlipidemia and were then randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 6 each) that were fed diets containing WR (control), sorghum, foxtail millet (FM), or proso millet for the next 5 weeks. Blood lipid profiles, hepatic antioxidant parameters, and inflammation-related measurements were determined in all of the groups. The concentrations of serum triglycerides were significantly lower in the FM and proso millet groups compared to those of the WR and sorghum groups. The concentrations of serum total, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol were significantly higher in the sorghum group than in the WR, FM, and proso millet groups. Hepatic catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione activities, as well as thiobarbituric acid reactive substance levels were not significantly different between the groups. Levels of C-reactive protein were significantly lower in the FM group than in the WR, sorghum, and proso millet groups. Inhibitor κB-α was expressed in the liver cytosolic fraction, and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-κB (p65) into the liver nucleus was blocked in all groups. In conclusion, FM and proso millet may prevent cardiovascular disease by reducing plasma triglycerides in hyperlipidemic rats; in contrast, sorghum increases total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol concentrations.