Nutrigenomics Group, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Rovira i Virgili University, Tarragona, Spain.
Mol Nutr Food Res. 2010 Jan;54(1):37-59. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.200900476.
Proanthocyanidins are the most abundant polyphenols in human diets. Epidemiological studies strongly suggest that proanthocyanidins protect against cardiovascular diseases. Despite the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of these flavonoids, one of the mechanisms by which proanthocyanidins exert their cardiovascular protection is improving lipid homeostasis. Animal studies demonstrate that proanthocyanidins reduce the plasma levels of atherogenic apolipoprotein B-triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and LDL-cholesterol but increase antiatherogenic HDL-cholesterol. The results in humans, however, are less clear. This review summarizes the results that have been published on plasma triglyceride, apolipoprotein B, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels in humans and animal models in response to proanthocyanidin extracts and proanthocyanidin-rich foods. The physiological processes and biochemical pathways that are related to lipid homeostasis and affected by proanthocyanidin consumption are also discussed. Intestinal lipid absorption, chylomicron secretion by the intestine and VLDL secretion by the liver are the processes that are most repressed by proanthocyanidins, which, therefore, induce hypolipidemic effects.
原花青素是人类饮食中最丰富的多酚类物质。流行病学研究强烈表明，原花青素可预防心血管疾病。尽管这些类黄酮具有抗氧化和抗炎特性，但原花青素发挥心血管保护作用的机制之一是改善脂质稳态。动物研究表明，原花青素可降低致动脉粥样硬化的载脂蛋白 B-富含甘油三酯的脂蛋白和 LDL 胆固醇的血浆水平，但可增加抗动脉粥样硬化的 HDL 胆固醇。然而，人类的研究结果则不太明确。本文综述了已发表的关于原花青素提取物和富含原花青素的食物对人体和动物模型的血浆甘油三酯、载脂蛋白 B、HDL 胆固醇和 LDL 胆固醇水平的影响。还讨论了与脂质稳态相关并受原花青素消耗影响的生理过程和生化途径。肠道脂质吸收、肠乳糜微粒分泌和肝 VLDL 分泌是原花青素最受抑制的过程，因此可诱导降血脂作用。
