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. 2017 Sep 25;4:543–553. doi: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2017.09.005

Table 1.

Summary of the studies on the physiological role of bacterial cellulose (BC).

Type of study Animal model Meal plan Main results Ref.
Hypolipidemic and hypocholesterolemic effect of BC Golden Syrian hamsters Meal incorporating:
  • –

    BC (50 g fibre/kg of diet), or

  • –

    Plant cellulose (50 g fibre/kg of diet), or

  • –

    No fibre (control)

  • –

    All diets were supplemented with cholesterol (2.0 g/kg of diet)

 BC diet allowed the highest reduction of:
  • –

    serum triglyceride (-55.5%)

  • –

    serum total cholesterol (-27.9%)

  • –

    LDL cholesterol (-47.9%)

  • –

    liver total lipids (-10.3%)

  • –

    liver cholesterol (-16.3%)

BC diet allowed the highest faecal increase of:
  • –

    excretion of total lipids (+82%)

  • –

    cholesterol (+103%)

  • –

    bile acids (+379%)

  • –

    moisture (+37%)

Both BC and plant cellulose increased the faecal dry weight (+49%)		 Chau et al. [24]
Effect of BC on faecal excretion and transit time Wistar rats Meal incorporating:
  • –

    BC, or

  • –

    Plant cellulose, or

  • –

    Guar gum

  • –

    No fibre (control)

 BC diet allowed:
  • –

    the highest increase in faecal mass (+223%)

  • –

    the highest decreased in faecal transit time (-50%)

Both BC and guar decreased (-52%) neutral sterol excretion bile acid excretion in faeces and increased (+106%) faecal bile acid excretion Fibre-based diets had no effect on lipoprotein cholesterol levels in plasma (total cholesterol, HDL, and LDL fractions), as compared to the control		 Okiyamaet al. [25]
Effect of BC on serum triglyceride and the serum cholesterol lowering effect Sprague-Dawley rats Meal incorporating:
  • –

    Diet 1: unpolished rice, mung bean, sweet corn and BC (22%), cholesterol (13%), or

  • –

    Diet 2: fibre from the same plant sources and BC (40%), cholesterol (11.4%), sucrose, or

  • –

    Diet 3: apple pectin, cholesterol (14.2%) or

  • –

    Diet 4: plant cellulose, cholesterol (14.1%)

  • –

    Diet 5: Casein, cholesterol (13.5%) (Control)

 Diet 2 (40% BC) diet 2 gave the best lowering effect of serum triglyceride in rats, as compared other fibre-rich diets Diet 2 had no effect in lowering serum cholesterol levels Mesomya et al. [26]
Effects of cereal and BC on serum lipids Human subjects Meal incorporating:
  • –

    No supplementation; 4 weeks (control)

  • –

    15 g of cereal and BC; 20 weeks

 Cereal and CB supplementation reduced the:
  • –

    Serum TG level (-20%)

in subjects who complied (>90%) with the diet regimen		 Mesomya et al. [27]