Eight male hamsters per group were assigned randomly to one of the following diets: chow diet (Control); high-fat/cholesterol diet (HFCD); HFCD supplemented with 1% Tau (HFCD/1% Tau); HFCD supplemented with 2% Tau (HFCD/2% Tau). Tau supplementation improved (P < 0.05) serum lipids and cholesterol profile in the high-fat/cholesterol-dietary hamsters. Although hepatic cholesterol/triacylglycerol in the high-fat/cholesterol-dietary hamsters were not (P > 0.05) changed by Tau supplementation, faecal cholesterol and bile acid outputs were increased (P < 0.05). Two percent Tau supplementation unregulated (P < 0.05) HMG-CoA reductase and cholesterol 7-α hydroxylase (CYP7A1) expressions in the high-fat/cholesterol-dietary hamsters. Besides, Tau supplementation also increased (P < 0.05) LDL receptor mRNA expressions in high-fat/cholesterol-dietary hamsters. Tau supplementation also reduced serum GPT and GOT values and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in the high-fat/cholesterol-dietary hamsters. Results clearly indicated that Tau could alleviate blood lipids and hepatic damage induced by a high-fat/cholesterol-dietary diet.
