title: Argan oil improves surrogate markers of CVD in humans.
abstract: Limited - though increasing - evidence suggests that argan oil might be endowed with potential healthful properties, mostly in the areas of CVD and prostate cancer. We sought to comprehensively determine the effects of argan oil supplementation on the plasma lipid profile and antioxidant status of a group of healthy Algerian subjects, compared with matched controls. A total of twenty healthy subjects consumed 15 g/d of argan oil - with toasted bread - for breakfast, during 4 weeks (intervention group), whereas twenty matched controls followed their habitual diet, but did not consume argan oil. The study lasted 30 d. At the end of the study, argan oil-supplemented subjects exhibited higher plasma vitamin E concentrations, lower total and LDL-cholesterol, lower TAG and improved plasma and cellular antioxidant profile, when compared with controls. In conclusion, we showed that Algerian argan oil is able to positively modulate some surrogate markers of CVD, through mechanisms which warrant further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Natural Products Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences and Sciences of Earth and Universe, Abu Bakr Belkaid University, Tlemcen, Algeria.
authors.forename: Souad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sour
authors.forename: Meriem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belarbi
authors.forename: Darine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Khaldi
authors.forename: Nassima
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Benmansour
authors.forename: Nassima
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sari
authors.forename: Abdelhafid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nani
authors.forename: Farid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chemat
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Visioli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000462:Algeria; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D029632:Sapotaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008055:Lipids; D010938:Plant Oils; D014280:Triglycerides; D014810:Vitamin E; C555574:argan oil; D002784:Cholesterol