Soybean hull and its effect on atherosclerosis in non-human primates (Macaca fascicularis)

Twenty five monkeys were used in this experiment. They were divided into 5 groups with 5 animals as the replicates in each group and were adapted for two weeks to the environment before the data were collected. The animals were subjected to 5 experimental diets, i.e. T1 (Basal diet); T2 (Basal diet + palm oil); T3 (Basal diet + palm oil + soybean hull); T4 (Basal diet + cholesterol) and T5 (Basal diet + cholesterol + soybean hull). The diets were given for a period of 8 months and water were given ad lib. Blood serum was taken before and during the experiment. The cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and HDL were measured using the spectrophotometric method. At the end of the experiment thorax surgery was performed on the animals under general anesthesia. The aorta was removed surgically for histopathological observation stained with hematoxylin and eosine. The results showed that the soybean hull decreased the serum cholesterol level in the groups given palm oil (T2 vs T3) and the groups given cholesterol (T4 vs T5) i.e.: 163.4 vs 124.7 mg/dl and 359 vs 288.5 mg/dl respectively. The soybean hull did not significantly affect the serum triglyceride nor the LDL level when palm oil was given in the diet, but it significantly decreased the two parameters where cholesterol was given in the diet (102.5 vs 98.6 mg/dl triglyceride) and (231.9 vs 183 mg/dl LDL). The soybean hull did not seem to affect the HDL level. Histopathological observation of the aorta indicated that given T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 caused 45%, 41.67%, 31.25%, 86.25% and 53.38% lesion (Atheroma arteriale) respectively. It was concluded that the soybean hull given in the diet has the ability to prevent the development of atherosclerosis in the aorta of the experimental animals.