title: Effect of a low dose of sea buckthorn berries on circulating concentrations of cholesterol, triacylglycerols, and flavonols in healthy adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epidemiological studies indicate beneficial effects of flavonoids on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of flavonoid-rich sea buckthorn berry (SBB) on circulating lipid markers associated with CVD risk and plasma flavonol concentration. Also investigated was whether changes in the circulating flavonol concentrations correlate with the SBB induced changes in C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration observed previously.
  
  
  METHODS
  In all 229 healthy participants completed the randomized double-blind study and consumed daily 28 g of SBB or placebo for 3 months. Fasting blood samples for the analysis of lipid markers and flavonols were obtained at the beginning and end of the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to the placebo, the consumption of SBB increased the plasma concentration of the flavonols quercetin and isorhamnetin significantly [treatment differences 3.0 ng/ml (P = 0.03) and 3.9 ng/ml (P < 0.01), respectively]. The increase of kaempferol concentration was not significant [treatment difference 0.7 ng/ml (P = 0.08)]. SBB did not affect the serum total, HDL, LDL cholesterol, or the serum triacylglycerol concentrations. There was no correlation between the changes in flavonol and CRP concentrations of participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The consumption of SBB significantly increased the fasting plasma concentration of quercetin and isorhamnetin indicating that it is a good dietary source of flavonols. However, this did not convert to affecting the circulating concentrations of lipid markers in healthy, normolipidemic adults having healthy diets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Food Chemistry, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland. petra.larmo@utu.fi
authors.forename: Petra S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Larmo
authors.forename: Baoru
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Saija A M
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Hurme
authors.forename: Jouni A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Alin
authors.forename: Heikki P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Kallio
authors.forename: Eeva K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Salminen
authors.forename: Raija L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Tahvonen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D044948:Flavonols / Q000097:blood*; D005638:Fruit; D031281:Hippophae / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011794:Quercetin / Q000097:blood / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D044948:Flavonols; D014280:Triglycerides; C047368:3-methylquercetin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol; D011794:Quercetin