Effects of dietary fibers on lipid metabolism in liver and adipose tissue in chicks.

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of dietary fibers on lipid metabolism with 14-day-old male chicks fed isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets with or without 4% cellulose or 8% alfalfa meal for 3 and 6 weeks. Feeding the cellulose or alfalfa meal resulted in significant reductions in hepatic lipid deposition and plasma lipid content. Hepatic de novo fatty acid synthesis from acetate, glucose and leucine was significantly reduced by feeding the cellulose or alfalfa meal. Triglyceride synthesis from palmitate in the hepatic tissue was significantly reduced by dietary alfalfa meal. Malate dehydrogenase (oxaloacetate-decarboxylating) (NADP+) activity in the hepatic tissue was not affected by feeding the cellulose or alfalfa meal for 3 and 6 weeks. Secretion of lipoprotein from the liver appears to be accelerated by the dietary fibers. Lipoprotein lipase activity in the adipose tissue and clearance rate of intravenously injected lipid were enhanced by feeding the alfalfa meal. Feeding the cellulose for 3 weeks reduced hormone-sensitive lipase activity in the adipose tissue.