LEP and familial hypercholesterolemia: The following effects have been reported: inhibition of weight gain and adipose mass deposit, improvement of plasma lipid profile and glucose tolerance, reduction of inflammatory markers (leptin, resistin and TNF-α), elevation of adiponectin levels, reduction of lipogenic enzyme activity in adipose and hepatic tissues and increase of beta-oxidation in the liver.15 , 16 In a recent study in rats with induced hypercholesterolemia and hyperglycemia, sericin decreased plasma cholesterol and reverted mitochondrial damage in the heart and liver.