title: Açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) dietary intake affects plasma lipids, apolipoproteins, cholesteryl ester transfer to high-density lipoprotein and redox metabolism: A prospective study in women.
abstract: The açai fruit (Euterpe oleracea Martius), which is native to the Brazilian Amazon region, was shown to have high polyphenols and MUFA contents. In this study, we aimed to assess the effects of açai consumption on plasma lipids, apolipoproteins, the transfer of lipids to HDL (which is a relevant HDL function), and some biomarkers of redox metabolism. Forty healthy volunteer women aged 24 ± 3 years consumed 200 g of açai pulp/day for 4 weeks; their clinical variables and blood sample were obtained before and after this period. Açai pulp consumption did not alter anthropometric parameters, systemic arterial pressure, glucose, insulin and total, LDL and HDL cholesterol, triglycerides and apolipoprotein (apo) B, but it did increase the concentration of apo A-I. Açai consumption decreased the ROS, ox-LDL and malondialdehyde while increasing the activity of antioxidative paraoxonase 1. Overall, the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was increased. Regarding the transfer of plasma lipids to HDL, açai consumption increased the transfer of cholesteryl esters (p = 0.0043) to HDL. Unesterified cholesterol, phospholipids and triglyceride transfers were unaffected. The increase in apo A-I and the cholesteryl ester transfer to HDL after the açai intake period suggests that an improvement in the metabolism of this lipoprotein occurred, and it is well known that HDL is protective against atherosclerosis. Another important finding was the general improvement of the anti-oxidant defences elicited by açai consumption. Our data indicate that açai has favourable actions on plasma HDL metabolism and anti-oxidant defence; therefore açai could have a beneficial overall role against atherosclerosis, and it is a consistently good candidate to consider as a functional food.
authors.affiliation: Nucleus of Research in Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pala
authors.affiliation: Nucleus of Research in Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Priscila Oliveira
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.affiliation: Nucleus of Research in Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carla Teixeira
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Nucleus of Research in Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Melina Oliveira
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Metabolism and Lipids, The Heart Institute (InCor) of the Medical School Hospital of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fatima Rodrigues
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.affiliation: School of Nutrition, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Carolina Pinheiro
authors.initials: ACP
authors.lastname: Volp
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Metabolism and Lipids, The Heart Institute (InCor) of the Medical School Hospital of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raul Cavalcante
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Maranhão
authors.affiliation: Nucleus of Research in Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil; School of Nutrition, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil. Electronic address: rfreitasmail@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Renata Nascimento de
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Freitas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000097:blood*; D004032:Diet / Q000379:methods; D065748:Euterpe / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001053:Apolipoproteins; D015415:Biomarkers; D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D008055:Lipids; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Açai; Cholesterol; Human; Lipoproteins; Nanoparticles; Oxidative stress