Pancreatic Enzymes, Bile Acids and Cholesterol Levels in Mice Fed Raw or Heated Egg Albumen

ABSTRACT

Mice were fed semipurified diets which contained either 20% unheated egg albumen (UEA) or heat-treated egg albumen (HTEA) for 15 days. After consuming a meal, the intestinal contents contained similar activities of trypsin, chymotrypsin, amylase and lipase in the two groups, but bile acid levels were greater in the UEA group. Relative to fasted animals, enzyme activities, measured in the pancreata, were present in greater amounts in the UEA group compared to those in the HTEA group following consumption of a meal. Liver cholesterol levels were lower in the UEA group than in the HTEA group; however, plasma cholesterol levels did not differ significantly. The results indicate that the feeding of unheated egg albumen can stimulate synthesis of pancreatic enzymes and enhance conversion of liver cholesterol to bile acids.