pectins and Hyperlipidemias

The regulatory effects of haw pectin pentaoligosaccharide (HPPS) on fatty acid oxidation-related enzyme activities and mRNA levels were investigated in the liver of high fat diet induced hyperlipidemic mice. Results showed that HPPS (150 mg/kg for 10 weeks) significantly suppresses weight gain (32.3 ± 0.26 and 21.1 ± 0.14 g for high-fat diet and HPPS groups, respectively), decreases serum triacylglycerol levels (1.64 ± 0.09 and 0.91 ± 0.02 mmol/L, respectively), and increases lipid excretion in feces (55.7 ± 0.38 and 106.4 ± 0.57 mg/g for total lipid, respectively), compared to high-fat diet as control. HPPS significantly increased the hepatic fatty acid oxidation-related enzyme activities of acyl-CoA oxidase, carnitine palmitoyltransferase I, 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase, and 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase by 53.8, 74.2, 47.1, and 24.2%, respectively. Meanwhile, the corresponding mRNAs were up-regulated by 89.6, 85.8, 82.9, and 30.9%, respectively. Moreover, HPPS was able to up-regulate the gene and protein expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α. Results suggest that continuous HPPS ingestion may be used as dietary therapy to prevent obesity and cardiovascular diseases.

Topics: Acyl-CoA Oxidase; Animals; Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase; Crataegus; Diet, High-Fat; Fatty Acids; Humans; Hyperlipidemias; Liver; Male; Mice; Oligosaccharides; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxidoreductases; Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors; Pectins; Plant Extracts

Besides others pectin, a soluble fibre, has been reported to be effective in lowering cholesterol levels in both animals and man with hyperlipidemia as well as being able to slow carbohydrate absorption and hence reduce the postprandial rise in blood glucose and serum insulin in patients with type-II diabetes. Aim of this pilot study was to assess the effect of prickly pear consumption on glucose- and lipid metabolism.. In 24 non-diabetic, non-obese males (aged 37-55 years) suffering from primary isolated hypercholesterolemia (n = 12; group A) or combined hyperlipidemia (n = 12; group B) respectively, the influence of prickly pear pectin (Opuntia robusta)-intake on glucose- and lipid metabolism was examined. After an 8 week pre-running phase with a 7506 KJ step-I diet (phase I), 625 KJ were replaced by prickly pear edible pulp (250 g/day) for 8 further weeks (phase II).. Prickly pear leads to a decrease of total cholesterol (12%), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (15%), apolipoprotein B (9%), triglycerides (12%), fibrinogen (11%), blood glucose (11%), insulin (11%) and uric acid (10%), while body weight, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, apolipoprotein A-I, and lipoprotein(a) remained unchanged.. The hypocholesterolemic action of prickly pear may be partly explained by the fibre (pectin) content, but the hypoglycaemic actions (improvement of insulin sensitivity) in the non-obese, non-diabetic need further investigation to get more insights on the potential advantage of treating the metabolic syndrome.

Topics: Adult; Apolipoproteins B; Blood Glucose; Body Weight; Cholesterol; Cholesterol, LDL; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Fibrinogen; Glucose; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia; Hyperlipidemias; Insulin; Lipid Metabolism; Male; Middle Aged; Opuntia; Pectins; Phytotherapy; Pilot Projects; Plant Preparations; Time Factors; Triglycerides

Previous research indicated that prunes in the diet of men with hypercholesterolemia lowered plasma and LDL cholesterol concentrations. To further study lipid metabolism in response to ingesting prunes, we conducted an animal study to test the hypotheses that fiber extracted from prunes, compared with purified cellulose, lowers plasma and liver cholesterol in rats with diet-induced hyperlipidemia and that the response is dose dependent. Rats were randomly assigned to one of five experimental diet groups. Four of the diets contained cholesterol and cholic acid to induce hyperlipidemia. The fiber source in the hyperlipidemic diets was 6% cellulose, 3% prune fiber, 6% prune fiber or 3% pectin. The fifth group, the nonhyperlipidemic control, was fed a diet containing 6% cellulose without cholesterol or cholic acid. Rats consumed one of the five diets ad libitum for 28 d, then were killed after 16 h without food. Plasma, LDL and liver cholesterol concentrations were higher in the hyperlipidemic control than the nonhyperlipidemic control and lower in the groups fed diets containing pectin or prune fiber than in the hyperlipidemic control group. No differences in plasma or liver cholesterol concentrations were detected between groups fed either dose level of prune fiber or between groups fed 6% prune fiber and pectin. These results indicate that fiber extracted from prunes lowers plasma and liver cholesterol in hyperlipidemic rats, although a dose-dependent response was not detected.

Topics: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Apolipoproteins; Cecum; Cellulose; Cholesterol; Diet; Dietary Fiber; Disease Models, Animal; Eating; Fruit; Hyperlipidemias; Intestine, Small; Lipoproteins; Liver; Male; Organ Size; Pectins; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Triglycerides

Topics: Animals; Chemical Phenomena; Chemistry; Guinea Pigs; Hyperlipidemias; Hypolipidemic Agents; Male; Pectins

An addition of 5% citrus pectin and 0.5% ascorbic acid to high-fat diet of guinea pigs prevented total cholesterol accumulation in blood serum and the liver. Two groups of persons were given a preparation containing a daily dose of 15 g pectin and 450 mg ascorbic acid for 6 weeks. In 21 healthy persons with mild hypercholesterolemia total serum cholesterol dropped significantly by 24 mg/100 ml (8.6%), while the concentration of high density lipoprotein cholesterol remained unchanged. In 11 hyperlipemic outpatients (type IIa, IIb and IV) total serum cholesterol dropped by 68 mg/100 ml (18.7%). The changes in triglyceridemia proved inconsistent.

Topics: Animals; Anticholesteremic Agents; Ascorbic Acid; Cholesterol; Fasting; Guinea Pigs; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia; Hyperlipidemias; Lipoproteins, HDL; Liver; Male; Pectins; Reference Values; Triglycerides

Topics: Citrus; Clofibrate; Fruit; Gout; Hypercholesterolemia; Hyperlipidemias; Lipids; Pectins; Structure-Activity Relationship

Pectin, 40-50 g/day for two weeks administered to nine normolipidemic and hyperlipidemic patients, had no effect on serum triglycerides but did cause a significant decrease in the serum total and unesterified cholesterol of hypercholesterolemic subjects in particular. This was associated with increased excretion of fecal bile acids and total steroids and increased concentration of plasma methyl sterols. Thus, the serum cholesterol reduction by pectin appears to be caused by increased cholesterol elimination into stools as bile acids which is then balanced by enhanced cholesterol synthesis. The composition of biliary bile acids and lipids was not changed and secondary bile acids and sterols decreased inconsistently in feces. The measurement of fecal dry weight suggested that the bulk of the pectin was degraded by bacteria during passage through the intestine. Consequently fecal mass and dry weight were not consistently increased, suggesting that pectin may not be an ideal fibre for increasing fecal bulk in functional colonic disorders.

Topics: Adult; Bacteria; Bile; Bile Acids and Salts; Biotransformation; Cholesterol; Fats; Feces; Female; Humans; Hyperlipidemias; Lipid Metabolism; Male; Middle Aged; Pectins; Steroids; Sterols

Topics: Arteriosclerosis; Gastric Mucins; Heparin; Humans; Hyperlipidemias; Lipids; Mucin 5AC; Pectins