The principal objective of this study was to investigate the effects of silkworm sericin extract supplementation on the improvement of lipid compositions, blood glucose levels and enzyme activities in the serum of dyslipidemic rats. The rats were fed the experimental diet for 5 weeks. Concentrations of total cholesterol, atherosclerotic index, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), phospholipid (PL), free cholesterol, cholesteryl ester ratio and blood glucose in serum were higher in the

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... c group (group HCW) and cholesterol-plus-silkworm sericin extract intake group (group HCS) than those in the control group (group BW, basal diet-plus-water). However, the concentrations of total cholesterol, atherosclerotic index, LDL-cholesterol, TG, PL, free cholesterol, cholesteryl ester ratio and blood glucose level in serum were lower in group HCS than those in group HCW. On the other hand, the HDL-cholesterol level and the ratio of HDL-cholesterol to total cholesterol in group HCS were higher than in group HCW. The activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and aminotransferase (AST & ALT) in serum were lower in group HCS than in the dyslipidemic group HCW. From the above results, it was suggested that silkworm sericin extract intake was effective in the prevention and improvement of lipid components, blood glucose level and enzyme activities in the sera of dyslipidemic rats.