Ability of chicken protein hydrolysate to lower serum cholesterol through its bile acid binding activity

In this study, chicken breast meat was hydrolyzed enzymatically to obtain chicken meat hydrolysate with its molecular weight to a large extent (98%) less than 3000 Da. The hydrolysate was capable of binding bile acids dose-dependently. The potential hypolipidemic effect of this hydrolysate was evaluated in high-fat-fed hamsters. Total free amino acids in the hydrolysate were seven times higher than those in the chicken meat. As compared with high-fat control, the inclusion of hydrolysate resulted in decreased concentrations of serum TG (by 16-34%) and TC (by 6-20%). The animals fed hydrolysate at a high dose exhibited 30% lower serum LDL-C levels and maintained a higher ratio of HDL-C/LDL-C (0.54) than those fed casein (0.36). Moreover, higher levels of hydrolysate inclusion were associated with increased outputs of fecal bile acid and total lipid, suggesting an association between hypocholesterolemic potential and bile acid binding capacity of the chicken hydrolysate.