title: Spirulina prevents atherosclerosis by reducing hypercholesterolemia in rabbits fed a high-cholesterol diet.
abstract: The anti-atherogenic effects of spirulina (Spirulina platensis) were investigated in the New Zealand White (NZW) rabbit model. The animal had hypercholesterolemia induced by being fed a high cholesterol diet (HCD) containing 0.5% cholesterol for 4 wk, and then fed a HCD supplemented with 1 or 5% spirulina (SP1 or SP5) for an additional 8 wk. Spirulina supplementation lowered intimal surface of the aorta by 32.2 to 48.3%, compared to HCD. Serum triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) significantly were reduced in SP groups. After 8 wk, serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) remarkably decreased by 26.4% in SP1 and 41.2% in SP5, compared to HCD. On the other hand, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was markedly increased in SP1 and SP5 compared with that in the HCD group from 2 to 8 wk. These results suggest that spirulina intake can cause the reduction of hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis, associated with a decrease in levels of serum TC, TG and LDL-C, and an elevation of HDL-C level. Spirulina may, therefore, be beneficial in preventing atherosclerosis and reducing risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.forename: Mi Yeon
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dai-Eun
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Sok
authors.forename: Seock-Yeon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Jin Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hye Ran
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jeung Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yun-Bae
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mee Ree
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001011:Aorta; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011817:Rabbits; D053545:Spirulina; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D028321:Plant Preparations; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol