Vinson J A, Mandarano M A, Shuta D L, Bagchi M, Bagchi D
Department of Chemistry, University of Scranton, Scranton, PA 18510-4626, USA.
Mol Cell Biochem. 2002 Nov;240(1-2):99-103. doi: 10.1023/a:1020611925819.
Atherosclerosis is a disease of the arteries in which fatty plaques develop on the inner arterial wall, which eventually obstructs blood flow. Identified risk factors for atherosclerosis include genetics, diet, lifestyle, smoking, circulating lipid and cholesterol levels, and molecular and circulating signals of chronic vascular inflammation. The link between flavonoids and atherosclerosis is based partly on the evidence that some flavonoids possess antioxidant properties and have been shown to be potent inhibitors of LDL oxidation in vitro. Hypercholesterolemia, a significant cardiovascular risk factor is prevalent in the American population. Grape seed proanthocyanidin extracts are known to exhibit a broad spectrum of chemopreventive and cardioprotective properties against oxidative stress. A recent study has shown that a combination of IH636 grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) and a niacin-bound chromium (NBC) can decrease total cholesterol, LDL and oxidized LDL levels in hypercholesterolemic human subjects. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of GSPE supplementation in hamsters, singly and in combination with NBC, since these animals have a similar lipid profile to hypercholesterolemic humans when fed a hypercholesterolemic diet of 0.2% cholesterol and 10% coconut oil (HCD). After 10 weeks of feeding HCD, these animals developed foam cells, which is a biomarker of early stages of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis (% of aorta covered with foam cells) was reduced by approximately 50% and 63% following supplementation of these animals with 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg of GSPE, respectively, in conjunction with a HCD, while approximately 32% reduction was observed following supplementation of GSPE plus NBC. A range of 7-9 animals was used in each study group. GSPE alone and in combination with NBC exerted a pronounced effect on the cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, as well as oxidative lipid damage as demonstrated by the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). This data demonstrates that GSPE and NBC may provide significant health benefits by dramatically ameliorating the incidence of atherosclerosis as demonstrated by reducing the formation of foam cells.
动脉粥样硬化是一种动脉疾病，其特征是在动脉内壁形成脂肪斑块，最终阻碍血液流动。已确定的动脉粥样硬化风险因素包括遗传、饮食、生活方式、吸烟、循环脂质和胆固醇水平，以及慢性血管炎症的分子和循环信号。类黄酮与动脉粥样硬化之间的联系部分基于以下证据：一些类黄酮具有抗氧化特性，并且在体外已被证明是低密度脂蛋白氧化的有效抑制剂。高胆固醇血症是一种重要的心血管风险因素，在美国人群中普遍存在。葡萄籽原花青素提取物已知具有广泛的化学预防和心脏保护特性，可抵御氧化应激。最近的一项研究表明，IH636葡萄籽原花青素提取物（GSPE）和烟酸结合铬（NBC）的组合可以降低高胆固醇血症患者的总胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白和氧化低密度脂蛋白水平。在本研究中，我们评估了单独补充GSPE以及与NBC联合补充对仓鼠的疗效，因为当给这些动物喂食含0.2%胆固醇和10%椰子油的高胆固醇饮食（HCD）时，它们的脂质谱与高胆固醇血症患者相似。在喂食HCD 10周后，这些动物形成了泡沫细胞，这是动脉粥样硬化早期阶段的一个生物标志物。在给这些动物喂食HCD的同时，分别补充50 mg/kg和100 mg/kg的GSPE后，动脉粥样硬化（主动脉被泡沫细胞覆盖的百分比）分别降低了约50%和63%，而补充GSPE加NBC后观察到约32%的降低。每个研究组使用7 - 9只动物。单独的GSPE以及与NBC联合使用对胆固醇和甘油三酯水平以及氧化脂质损伤均有显著影响，硫代巴比妥酸反应性物质（TBARS）的形成证明了这一点。该数据表明，GSPE和NBC可能通过显著改善动脉粥样硬化的发生率（如减少泡沫细胞的形成所示）而提供显著的健康益处。
