title: Grapefruit pectin inhibits hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis in miniature swine.
abstract: We studied the effect of dietary grapefruit pectin on plasma cholesterol and the development of atherosclerosis in 18 miniature swine. Pigs were randomized to one of three diets: no added fat (I), added fat/cellulose (II), and added fat/pectin (III). Plasma cholesterol was measured monthly. Arteries were examined for atherosclerosis at the termination of the experiment. Pectin supplementation of an added fat diet resulted in a significantly lower average plasma cholesterol than did cellulose supplementation (168 mg/dl vs. 249 mg/dl, p less than 0.05). The pectin-fed pigs also developed less atherosclerosis of their aortas (1.1% vs. 7.0%, p less than 0.05) and coronary arteries (2.9% vs. 26.2% cross-sectional narrowing, p less than 0.05). Plasma cholesterol levels correlated with the severity of aortic (r = 0.836) and coronary artery (r = 0.735) atherosclerosis. We conclude that dietary grapefruit pectin supplementation inhibits hypercholesterolemia and appears to be proportionately protective against atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville 32610.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Baekey
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Cerda
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Burgin
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Robbins
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Baumgartner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002957:Citrus; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010368:Pectins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004043:Dietary Fiber; D014280:Triglycerides; D010368:Pectins; D002784:Cholesterol