A new pectin-based material for selective LDL-cholesterol removal

A new material, natural polysaccharide-pectin, was tested for removal of human blood lipoproteins. Pectin was prepared in a granular form with the help of the specifically designed gelification device and tested in batch sorption experiments in vitro for removal of total cholesterol (TC), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) from human plasma. Pectin granules removed 40% of TC, 45% of LDL-C, and 36% of HDL-C on average with respect to the initial amounts whereas corresponding values for LA-40 Kanegafuchi adsorbent were 69%, 81%, and 33% in the same experimental conditions (shaking 1 g of sorbent sample with 2 ml of plasma).