Long-term effect of medium-chain trigly-ceride on hepatic enzymes catalyzing lipogenesis and cholesterogenesis in rats.

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Abstract
The long-term effect of dietary medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) was compared with that of corn oil feeding on lipid metabolism in rats. Serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels in MCT-fed rats showed significant decrease during the experimental period of 8 wk, although liver cholesterol and triglyceride contents were not distinguishable between the 2 groups. Significant elevation of the activity of lipogenic enzymes, such as fatty acid synthetase (FAS) and malic enzyme (ME) of the liver, was observed in MCT-fed rats without any fat accumulation of the liver (fatty liver). The increase of lipogenic enzyme activity was accompanied by a significant reduction of essential fatty acids (EFA) such as 18:2 (.omega.6) and 20:4 (.omega.6) in total liver lipid. Hepatic .beta.-hydroxy-.beta.-methylglutaryl CoA(HMG-CoA) reductase activity was significantly decreased in MCT-fed rats, that would play an important role in achieving hypocholesterolemia. Exogenous MCT probably depresses the key enzyme catalyzing cholesterol synthesis with a concomitant elevation of lipogenic enzyme activity in the rat liver.