牛磺酸影响胆固醇代谢的研究进展

牛磺酸是小分子含硫氨基酸,为常见食物成分之一,富含于海产品中。动物实验证实牛磺酸可显著降低饮食性高胆固醇血症动物的胆固醇水平,临床试验也显示牛磺酸能降低血清总胆固醇及动脉粥样硬化指数,表明牛磺酸具有良好的抗动脉粥样硬化作用,因此被认为是心血管细胞保护剂。本文从体内和体外两方面的研究情况介绍了牛磺酸对胆固醇代谢的影响,并主要从胆固醇/胆汁酸稳态的角度,总结归纳了牛磺酸对血液循环中胆固醇的清除、对胆固醇向胆汁酸的生物转化、以及对胆汁酸排出等多条作用途径的影响,为牛磺酸降胆固醇作用机制的深入研究、也为牛磺酸在功能食品领域的进一步开发利用提供参考。

Research progress of effect of taurine on cholesterol metabolism

Taurine, a small molecule of sulfur-containing amino acid, is one of the common food ingredients and rich in seafood. Clinical and animal experiments show that taurine has anti-atherosclerotic effect and is considered as a cardiovascular cytoprotective agent. The present paper summaries the effect of taurine on cholesterol metabolism from both of in vivo and in vitro experiments, and addresses the possible mechanisms of cholesterol lowering effect of taurine via cholesterol clearance, cholesterol bioconversion to bile acid, and bile acid excretion in feces, so as to provide a reference for the further study in taurine nutrition and for the further utilization of taurine in functional foods.