Effects of dietary phytic acid on serum and hepatic lipid levels in diabetic KK mice

The dietary effect of phytic acid on the levels of lipids in the serum and liver of diabetic mice was investigated. Forty male KK strain mice were fed with semipurified diets supplemented with 0% (P0), 0.5% (P5), 1.0% (P10), or 1.5% (P15) sodium phytate for 8 weeks. Diet intake, body and organ weights, and serum and hepatic lipid profiles were measured. There was no significant difference in diet intake and body or organ weights among the experimental groups. However, the concentrations of serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly lower in the P10 and P15 groups as compared with those in the P0 group (control). Similarly, the contents of hepatic total lipid and total cholesterol were significantly lower in all 3 groups fed with phytate diets as compared with those in the P0 group. These results suggest that phytic acid reduces lipid levels in the serum and liver of diabetic KK mice.