White button (Agaricus bisporus) mushroom (WBM) is a good source of fiber, protein and unsaturated fatty acids and is considered an effective food for the treatment of hyperlipidemia.
Male Wistar strain rats (28) were divided into four groups, two control and two experimental, which were fed a semi-synthetic diet containing 1 per cent cholesterol and supplemented with 5 and 10 per cent dried mushroom for a period of 42 days. At the end of the experiment, the rats were anesthetized and blood samples were taken. The serum and liver were analyzed for total lipids, triglycerides and phospholipids.
Serum total lipid and triglyceride levels were reduced significantly in rats fed on 5 and 10 per cent WBM. However, serum phospholipid levels were decreased only in rats fed on 10 per cent WBM. The deposition of total lipids and triglycerides in liver decreased significantly in the experimental rats. However, no significant differences were observed in liver phospholipid levels in any experimental group of rats.
Hyperlipidemia is one of the leading medical problems nowadays, and it represents a major concern because of the associated death rates occurring in different communities. The study results indicate that this problem can be reduced through the consumption of A. bisporus mushrooms.
