title: Argan oil prevents prothrombotic complications by lowering lipid levels and platelet aggregation, enhancing oxidative status in dyslipidemic patients from the area of Rabat (Morocco).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is now established that patients with hyperlipidemia have a high risk of atherosclerosis and thrombotic complications, which are two important events responsible for the onset and progression of cardiovascular disease. In the context of managing dyslipidemia by means of dietary advice based on the consumption of argan oil, we wanted to investigate the effect of virgin argan oil on plasma lipids, and for the first time, on the platelet hyperactivation and oxidative status associated with dyslipidemia. This study concerns patients recruited in the area of Rabat in Morocco.
  
  
  METHODS
  39 dyslipidemic (79% women) patients were recruited for our study in the area of Rabat in Morocco. They were randomly assigned to the two following groups: the argan group, in which the subjects consumed 25 mL/day of argan oil at breakfast for 3 weeks, and the control group in which argan oil was replaced by butter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After a 3-week consumption period, blood total cholesterol was significantly lower in the argan oil group, as was LDL cholesterol (23.8% and 25.6% lower, respectively). However, the HDL cholesterol level had increased by 26% at the end of the intervention period compared to baseline. Interestingly, in the argan oil group thrombin-induced platelet aggregation was lower, and oxidative status was enhanced as a result of lower platelet MDA and higher GPx activity, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, our results, even if it is not representative of the Moroccan population, show that argan oil can prevent the prothrombotic complications associated with dyslipidemia, which are a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: IUT Département Génie Biologique, Université du Maine, PRES L'UNAM, EA 2160 MMS (Mer, Molécules, Santé), Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Le Mans, Laval, France.
authors.forename: Adil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haimeur
authors.forename: Hafida
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Messaouri
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ulmann
authors.forename: Virginie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mimouni
authors.forename: Azelarab
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Masrar
authors.forename: Abdelmjid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chraibi
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tremblin
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Meskini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009018:Morocco; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D029632:Sapotaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008055:Lipids; D010938:Plant Oils; C555574:argan oil; D002784:Cholesterol