Serum and liver lipid responses to 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric acid in rats on different carbohydrate diets.

Groups of male adult albino rats were administered 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric acid (HMG) intraperitoneally along with six diets differing only in the type of carbohydrate used. Groups not treated with HMG served as controls. HMG showed a significant cholesterol- and tri-glyceride-lowering effect in the whole serum, serum beta-lipoproteins, and liver of animals on all types of dietary carbohydrates. The effect was more marked in glucose, fructose, sucrose, and lactose. The phospholipid levels in whole serum, serum beta-lipoproteins, as well as in liver were also significantly lowered on all types of carbohydrates except dextrin and starch fed animals, where it had no effect on liver levels. The lipid-lowering effect of HMG seems to be independent of the type of carbohydrate in diet.