Dietary persimmon improves lipid metabolism in rats fed diets containing cholesterol.

The effect of dietary persimmon (Pers, 7.0%) on lipid metabolism and antioxidant activity was investigated in 40 male Wistar rats adapted to cholesterol-free or 1% cholesterol diets. The rats were divided in four groups of 10. The basal diet contained wheat starch, casein, soybean oil, and mineral and vitamin mixtures. The control group (C) consumed the basal diet. To the basal diet were added 7 g/100 g dry persimmon (Pers), 1 g/100 g cholesterol (Chol), or both (Chol/Pers). The experiment lasted 4 wk. Plasma total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), total phospholipids (TPH), HDL phospholipids (HDL-PH), lipid peroxides (LP) and liver TC concentrations were measured. Groups did not differ before the experiment. In the Chol/Pers vs. Chol group, the persimmon-supplemented diet significantly (P < 0.05) lessened the rise in plasma lipids due to dietary cholesterol: TC (3.88 vs. 4. 88 mmol/L; -20%), LDL-C (2.24 vs. 3.27 mmol/L; -31%), TG (0.72 vs. 0. 89 mmol/L; -19%), LP (2.20 vs. 3.25 mmol/L; -32%) and TC in liver (32.8 vs. 49.9 micromol/g; -34%), (P < 0.001). The Chol/Pers diet significantly reduced the decrease in HDL-PH due to dietary cholesterol (0.73 vs. 0.58 mmol/L; -25.8%, P < 0.001) and decreased the level of TPH (1.32 vs. 1.73 mmol/L; -23%, P < 0.001). Persimmon in rats fed the basal diet without cholesterol did not significantly affect the variables measured. These results demonstrate that persimmon possesses hypolipidemic and antioxidant properties that are evident when persimmon is added to the diet of rats fed cholesterol. These properties are attributed to its water-soluble dietary fiber, carotenoids and polyphenols.

Comparison of the effects of fish oil and olive oil on blood lipids and aortic atherosclerosis in Watanabe heritable hyperlipidaemic rabbits.

To compare the effects of fish oil and olive oil on the development of atherosclerosis in Watanabe heritable hyperlipidaemic (WHHL) rabbits, 6-week-old animals were given a daily dose (1.5 ml/kg body weight) of fish oil (n 10) or olive oil (n 10) by oral administration for 16 weeks. Plasma cholesterol and triacylglycerols were measured once monthly, and their concentrations in lipoproteins, together with susceptibility of LDL to oxidation were measured in vitro at the termination of the experiment. Aortic atherosclerosis was quantified biochemically and microscopically. After 4 weeks of treatment, and throughout the study thereafter, blood lipids were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the fish-oil group than in the olive-oil group (cholesterol: 17.0 v. 30.3 mmol/l, triacylglycerols 2.97 v. 6.25 mmol/l, at termination). In the fish-oil group cholesterol was significantly lower in intermediate-density lipoproteins (2.69 v. 6.76 mmol/l) and VLDL (3.36 v. 11.51 mmol/l). Triacylglycerol levels of intermediate-density lipoproteins and VLDL in the fish-oil group were also significantly lower when compared with the olive-oil group (0.54 v 1.36 mmol/l and 0.92 v. 2.87 mmol/l respectively). No group differences were recorded for LDL- and HDL-cholesterol or triacylglycerol levels. A significantly higher oxidation of LDL was recorded 1 h after exposure to CuSO4 in the fish-oil group when compared with the olive-oil group (0.465 v. 0.202, arbitrary units). The following indicators of atherosclerosis development were significantly lower in the fish-oil group than in the olive-oil group: the cholesterol content (mg/g tissue) in the ascending aorta (29.8 v. 48.9), the intima:media value (4.81 v. 18.24) and the area of intima (0.10 v. 0.57 mm2) in the thoracic aorta. It was concluded that fish-oil treatment decreased blood lipids and the development of aortic atherosclerosis in WHHL rabbits when compared with olive-oil treatment.

[Unsaturated fatty acids omega-3. I. Structure, sources, determination, metabolism in the organism]. / Nienasycone kwasy tluszczowe z rodziny omega-3. Cz. I. Struktura, zródla, oznaczanie, przemiany w organizmie.

Fats covered approximately 22% of energy requirements in diets of ancient human being, and simultaneously the value of ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) to saturated (SFA) was estimated as 1.4 and the proportion of PUFA omega 6 to PUFA omega 3 was 1:1. During the last twenty thousands years the composition of human diets was changing dramatically due to economical, culture and social changes. However, there are indicators that the ratio of PUFA omega 6 to PUFA omega 3 in human diet was unchanging until beginning of XIX century. Dramatic technological breakthrough in food technology during last 100 years caused radical changes in the structure and quality of food consumption. It is estimated that at present fats cover about 40% of energy requirements in diets of people in developed countries, and the value of ratio of dietary PUFA omega 6 to PUFA omega 3 is 25:1 and even 50:1. Epidemiological nutritional studies indicate that in populations which consume inadequate amount of PUFA omega 3 most often occur the disorders on atherosclerotic and immunological background as compared to populations which consume diets with appropriate covering the requirements of dietary PUFA omega 3. Therefore, it could be supposed that increased occurrence so-called civilization disorders is the result of increased consumption of highly manufactured food with changed composition (and also to increased fats consumption and decreased consumption of PUFA omega 3). This hypothesis is confirmed by the observations that the supplementation of diets with PUFA omega 3 gives the desirable results in the treatment of many disorders. The main objective of this two parts paper is to characterize the polyunsaturated fatty acids, their metabolic path ways as well as the possibilities of the use of the diet supplementation with PUFA omega 3 in the treatment and prophylaxis of some metabolic disorders. The structure, sources, determination and pathways in organism are discussed in part I, and the role of eicosanoids originating from respective PUFA omega 3 and advantages of the supplementation the diet with PUFA are discussed in part II.

Comparison of the influence of dietary fibre sources with different proportions of soluble and insoluble fibre on Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu apparent absorption in rats.

The 6 week experiment was performed on growing Wistar male rats. In the third and the sixth weeks digestibility trials were performed. The following high fibre preparations were supplemented to the control diet (C): high methoxylated citrus pectin (Cr); apple pomace (A), potato fiber "Povex" (P) and sugar beet pulp (B). Fibre supplementation, except Cr, significantly increased Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu excretion in faeces and decreased their apparent absorption in both trials. Significant correlations (P < or = 0.001) were found between crude, insoluble and total fibre intake and mineral excretion and apparent absorption. Apparent absorption of minerals increased from the third to the sixth week in group C and in group Cr, except Fe, while it decreased in groups P and B or showed tendency to decrease. In the sixth week the following differences (P < or = 0.05) in apparent absorption were observed between diets, in descending order: [equation: see text]

Metabolic effect of orotic acid in calves.

Eight calves (males, Black and White crossbred with Holstein-Fresian) were fed milk and milk replacer without (control group) or with potassium orotate (3 mmol./l.) supplementation for 6 weeks after birth. Orotate depressed the biosynthesis of polyamines in mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract (rumen, omasum, abomasum, colon) by decreasing of ornithine decarboxylase activity with a simultaneous compensatory increase of S-adenosyl-methionine decarboxylase activity. A lower concentration of spermidine and spermine in the mucosa of the colon was also noted. The above changes were accompanied by increased urinary excretion of ornithine and arginine. Calf adaptation to a high OA intake was associated with an increased activity of the OA metabolizing enzyme complex (orotate phosphoribosyl transferase and orotidine monophosphate decarboxylase) in the liver, while urinary OA losses diminished with age. Increased concentrations of uracil and uridine in the liver and higher urinary excretion of pseudouridine in OA-fed calves was also observed. Stimulation of pyrimidine metabolism by OA depressed purine synthesis, which was reflected by a decrease of urate, hypoxanthine, and xanthine concentration in the liver. Interestingly OA enhanced urate excretion by the kidneys. OA strongly affected lipid metabolism in calves because total cholesterol, LDL-, and HDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides in blood plasma decreased while triglycerides accumulated in the liver of OA-fed calves. Milk OA in concentrations characteristic of cows with hereditary orotic aciduria exerts an unfavourable effect on the metabolism of polyamines, purines, and lipids in calf tissues.

Lipid peroxides in blood from patients with atherosclerosis of coronary and peripheral arteries.

Lipid peroxides in plasma were determined in 100 patients with coronary artery disease, in 100 patients with peripheral artery disease and in 100 persons without any clinical symptoms of coronary or peripheral artery disease. The concentrations of lipid peroxides were significantly higher in patients with atherosclerosis (both coronary and peripheral arteries) than in controls. There was no difference between lipid peroxides in patients with coronary and peripheral artery disease. Lipid peroxides in plasma were similar in subgroups of patients with coronary artery disease without a history of myocardial infarct and those who had had myocardial infarct. In subgroups of patients with peripheral artery disease divided according to the severity of peripheral atherosclerosis a positive association between the concentration of lipid peroxides in plasma and the severity of disease was observed. In all groups there was a significant correlation between the age of examined persons and lipid peroxides in plasma; however, the concentration of lipid peroxides in plasma was statistically higher in patients with atherosclerosis than in the control age matched group. The correlation between lipid peroxides and total cholesterol as well as triglycerides were weak and not statistically significant in most of the examined groups. The results of this study provide clinical support for experimental data indicating that peroxidation of lipids is an important factor in the formation of atherosclerotic changes. They also indicate that determination of plasma lipid peroxides may give important supplementary information in monitoring patients with clinical symptoms of atherosclerosis.