Evaluation of goat milk fat and goat milk casein fraction for anti-hypercholesterolaemic and antioxidative properties in hypercholesterolaemic rats

Goat milk fat (GMF) or casein (GMC) were fed to hypercholesterolaemic rats to investigate the effects on lipid homeostasis. Thirty two rats were randomly divided into four groups (eight rats each) and fed on standard diet (SD), cholesterol-enriched diet (CED), or CED containing either GMF (CED + GMF) or GMC (CED + GMC). Rats fed with CED exhibited higher plasma total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and atherogenic indices, but lower plasma high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels than the SD group. This effect was significantly decreased in the CED + GMF or CED + GMC groups. HDL-C levels were restored in the CED + GMC group while better and pronounced effects were observed for the CED + GMF group. Furthermore, CED induced liver cholesterol deposition was attenuated by GMF or GMC and faecal cholesterol excretion was increased in the CED + GMF and CED + GMC groups. Additionally, plasma/liver lipid peroxidation was decreased in the CED + GMF and CED + GMC groups. Thus, both GMF and GMC possess anti-hypercholesterolaemic and antioxidative effects.