ABSTRACT
Background: Carotenoids have been known to have important beneficial properties for humanhealth and gained importance in recent years
Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of supplementation with twocarotenoids [Lycopene and beta -Carotene] separately or in combination, on lipid peroxidation andsome endogenous antioxidants in addition to their effect on serum levels of lipoproteins in malerats
Methods: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley Albino rats, were randomly divided into 5 groups, normalcontrol group fed on standard diet, 4 groups were divided to positive control group fed on high fatand cholesterol diet only, and the remaining 3 groups were fed on high fat and cholesterol dietssupplemented with single antioxidant Lycopene 350mg/kg diet, beta -carotene 350mg/kg diet, ormixture of Lycopene and beta -carotene, for 4 weeks. The following parameters were measured,serum total cholesterol [TC], HDL, LDL, serum triglyceride [TG] levels, blood and liverglutathione [GSH], and livers malondialdhyde [MDA]
Results: Supplementation of High Fat Diet [HFD] with lycopene [HFD+ LYC], beta -Carotene[HFD+ B-car] and their mixture [HFD+ [LYC+ B-car]] produced a significant reduction of SerumTC, LDL and TG levels, and a significant elevation of serum HDL levels. The supplementation oflycopene, beta -carotene or their mixture resulted in a significant reduction of liver MDA, and asignificant elevation of liver and blood glutathione [GSH], in comparison with the levels of HFDgroup
Conclusion: These findings suggest that lycopene and beta -carotene supplementation, altered the pro-oxidation and anti-oxidation balance and suppressed oxidative stress by modulatingendogenously the antioxidant system and cholesterol metabolism