TY - JOUR

T1 - Anthocyanins increase low-density lipoprotein and plasma cholesterol and do not reduce atherosclerosis in Watanabe Heritable Hyperlipidemic rabbits

AU - Nielsen, Inge L Finné

AU - Rasmussen, Salka Elbøl

AU - Mortensen, Alicja

AU - Ravn-Haren, Gitte

AU - Ma, Hai Ping

AU - Knuthsen, Pia

AU - Hansen, Birgit Fischer

AU - McPhail, Donald

AU - Freese, Riitta

AU - Breinholt, Vibeke

AU - Frandsen, Henrik

AU - Dragsted, Lars Ove

PY - 2005

Y1 - 2005

N2 - Anthocyanin-rich beverages have shown beneficial effects on coronary heart disease in epidemiological and intervention studies. In the present study, we investigated the effect of black currant anthocyanins on atherosclerosis. Watanabe Heritable Hyperlipidemic rabbits (n = 61) were fed either a purified anthocyanin fraction from black currants, a black currant juice, probucol or control diet for 16 weeks. Purified anthocyanins significantly increased plasma cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Intake of black currant juice had no effect on total plasma cholesterol, but lowered very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol significantly. There were no significant effects of either purified anthocyanins or black currant juice on aortic cholesterol or development of atherosclerosis after 16 weeks. Probucol had no effect on plasma cholesterol but significantly lowered VLDL-cholesterol and decreased aortic cholesterol accumulation. The erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase was significantly increased by purified anthocyanins and superoxide dismutase was increased by both anthocyanin- containing treatments. Other markers of plasma antioxidant capacity, antioxidant enzymes, protein and lipid oxidation were not affected by any of the anthocyanin treatments. Adverse effects of purified anthocyanins were observed on plasma- and LDL-cholesterol. These effects were not observed with black currant juice, suggesting that black currants may contain components reducing the adverse effects of anthocyanins.

AB - Anthocyanin-rich beverages have shown beneficial effects on coronary heart disease in epidemiological and intervention studies. In the present study, we investigated the effect of black currant anthocyanins on atherosclerosis. Watanabe Heritable Hyperlipidemic rabbits (n = 61) were fed either a purified anthocyanin fraction from black currants, a black currant juice, probucol or control diet for 16 weeks. Purified anthocyanins significantly increased plasma cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Intake of black currant juice had no effect on total plasma cholesterol, but lowered very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol significantly. There were no significant effects of either purified anthocyanins or black currant juice on aortic cholesterol or development of atherosclerosis after 16 weeks. Probucol had no effect on plasma cholesterol but significantly lowered VLDL-cholesterol and decreased aortic cholesterol accumulation. The erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase was significantly increased by purified anthocyanins and superoxide dismutase was increased by both anthocyanin- containing treatments. Other markers of plasma antioxidant capacity, antioxidant enzymes, protein and lipid oxidation were not affected by any of the anthocyanin treatments. Adverse effects of purified anthocyanins were observed on plasma- and LDL-cholesterol. These effects were not observed with black currant juice, suggesting that black currants may contain components reducing the adverse effects of anthocyanins.

KW - Anthocyanins

KW - Antioxidants

KW - Atherosclerosis

KW - Cholesterol

KW - Flavonoids

U2 - 10.1002/mnfr.200400097

DO - 10.1002/mnfr.200400097

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 15759306

AN - SCOPUS:20244373632

VL - 49

SP - 301

EP - 308

JO - Molecular Nutrition & Food Research

JF - Molecular Nutrition & Food Research

SN - 1613-4125

IS - 4

ER -