title: Evidence of hypolipemiant and antioxidant properties of argan oil derived from the argan tree (Argania spinosa).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Virgin argan oil is of interest in cardiovascular risk prevention due to its fat composition and antioxidant compounds.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We investigated with Moroccan subjects the effect of regular virgin argan oil consumption on lipid profile and antioxidant status and the in vitro effect of argan oil minor compounds (tocopherols, sterols and polyphenols) on LDL peroxidation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy subjects (20 men, 76 women) were studied. Sixty-two were regular consumers of argan oil and 34 were non-consumers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fasting plasma lipids, antioxidant vitamins and LDL oxidation susceptibility were analyzed. In vitro LDL oxidation by phenolic and apolar compounds of virgin argan oil were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Diet composition of argan oil consumers has a higher significant content of polyunsaturated fatty acids than that of non-consumers (8.8 +/- 1.0 vs. 6.6 +/- 0.9 g, P < 0.05). Subjects consuming argan oil have lower levels of plasma LDL cholesterol (12.7%, P < 0.05) and Lp(a) (25.3%, P < 0.05) compared with the non-consumers. In argan oil consumers, plasma lipoperoxides were lower (58.3%, P < 0.01) and molar ratio alpha-tocopherol/total cholesterol (21.6%, P < 0.05) and alpha-tocopherol concentration (13.4%, P < 0.05) were higher compared with the non-consumers group. In spite of higher levels of plasma antioxidant and lower levels of lipoperoxides in argan oil consumers, LDL oxidation susceptibility remained fairly similar. A strong positive correlation was observed between increasing phenolic extract, sterol and tocopherol concentrations and the LDL-Lag phase (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest for the first time that regular consumption of virgin argan oil induces a lowering of LDL cholesterol and has antioxidant properties. This oil offers an additional natural food to reducing cardiovascular risk.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Recherche sur les Lipoprotéines, Faculté des Sciences Ben M'sik, BP 7955 Sidi Othman, Casablanca, Morocco.
authors.forename: Anas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Drissi
authors.forename: Josefa
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Girona
authors.forename: Mounia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cherki
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Godàs
authors.forename: Abdelfettah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Derouiche
authors.forename: Mariame
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El Messal
authors.forename: Rachid
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saile
authors.forename: Anass
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kettani
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Solà
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Masana
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adlouni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009018:Morocco; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000032:analysis; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage; D059808:Polyphenols; D029632:Sapotaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000032:analysis; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D010840:Phytosterols; D010938:Plant Oils; D059808:Polyphenols; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D014810:Vitamin E