title: Randomized, controlled trial of antioxidant vitamins and cardioprotective diet on hyperlipidemia, oxidative stress, and development of experimental atherosclerosis: the diet and antioxidant trial on atherosclerosis (DATA).
abstract: The effects of administration of guava and papaya fruit (100 g/day), vegetables, and mustard oil (5 g/day) (group A); antioxidant vitamins C (50 mg/day) and E (30 mg/day), plus betacarotene (10 mg/day) (group B); a high-fat (5-10 g/day) (group C); or a low-fat (4-5 g/day) diet (group D) were compared over 24 diet weeks in a randomized fashion, while all groups of rabbits (five in each of four groups) received a hydrogenated fat diet (5-10 g/day) for a period of 36 weeks. After 12 weeks on the high-fat diet, each group of rabbits had an increase in blood lipoproteins. The fruit and vegetable-enriched prudent diet (group A) caused a significant decline in blood lipids at 24 and 36 weeks, whereas the lipid levels increased significantly in groups C and D. Group A also had a significant rise in vitamin E (2.1 Umol/l), C (10.5 Umol/l), A (0.66 Umol/l), and carotene (0.08 Umol/l) and a decrease in lipid peroxides (0.34 nmol/ml at 36 weeks, whereas the levels were unchanged in groups C and D. Group B rabbits had a significant and greater increase than group A in plasma vitamins E, C, A, and carotene; a rise in HDL cholesterol; and a greater decrease in lipid peroxides after 24 and 36 weeks of treatment. After stimulation of lipid peroxidation in all rabbits, 3 of 5 group C and 2 of 5 group D rabbits died due to coronary thrombosis, whereas in groups A and B there were no deaths, indicating that antioxidant therapy can provide protection against lipid peroxidation and free radical generation. Aortic lipids and sudanophilia, indicating atherosclerosis, were significantly higher in groups C and D than in groups A and B. Fatty streaks and atheromatous and fibrous plaques were noted in all the rabbits in groups C and D. Intimal fibrosis and medial degeneration were also present in the group C rabbits. While group A (36.4 +/- 4.4 microns) and group B (37.1 +/- 4.2 microns) rabbits had minimal coronary artery plaque sizes, group C (75.4 +/- 10.6 microns) and group D rabbits (69.5 +/- 6.2 microns) had significantly greater plaque sizes. Aortic plaque sizes were also greater in groups C and D than in groups A and B. It is possible that combined therapy with antioxidant vitamins C, E, and carotene, and a diet rich in antioxidants, could independently inhibit free radical generation and the development of atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Heart Research Laboratory and Centre of Nutrition Research, Medical Hospital and Research Centre, Moradabad, India.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Niaz
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Begum
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Onouchi
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Kummerow
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011817:Rabbits; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004041:Dietary Fats; D019207:beta Carotene; D014810:Vitamin E; D001205:Ascorbic Acid