Red grapefruit positively influences serum triglyceride level in patients suffering from coronary atherosclerosis: studies in vitro and in humans.

The contents of the bioactive compounds in red and blond grapefruits and their influence on humans suffering from hypertriglyceridemia were studied. It was found that red grapefruit has a higher content of bioactive compounds and a higher antioxidant potential than blond grapefruit, determined by oxygen radical scavenging capacity, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, carotenoid bleaching, and Folin-Ciocalteu assays. Fifty-seven hyperlipidemic patients, ages 39-72 years, after coronary bypass surgery, recruited from the Institute's pool of volunteers, were randomly divided into three equal in number (19) groups: two experimental (red and blond groups) and one control group (CG). During 30 consecutive days of the investigation the diets of the patients of the red and blond dietary groups were daily supplemented with one equal in weight fresh red or blond grapefruit, respectively. Before and after this trial, serum lipid levels of all fractions and serum antioxidant activity were determined. It was found that serum lipid levels in patients of the red and blond groups versus the CG after treatment were decreased: (a) total cholesterol, 6.69 versus 7.92 mmol/L, 15.5%, and 7.32 versus 7.92 mmol/L, 7.6%, respectively; (b) low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, 5.01 versus 6.29 mmol/L, 20.3%, and 5.62 versus 6.29 mmol/L, 10.7%, respectively; (c) triglycerides, 1.69 versus 2.32 mmol/L, 17.2%, and 2.19 versus 2.32 mmol/L, 5.6%, respectively. No changes in the serum lipid levels in patients of the CG were found. In conclusion, fresh red grapefruit contains higher quantities of bioactive compounds and has significantly higher antioxidant potential than blond grapefruit. Diet supplemented with fresh red grapefruit positively influences serum lipid levels of all fractions, especially serum triglycerides and also serum antioxidant activity. The addition of fresh red grapefruit to generally accepted diets could be beneficial for hyperlipidemic, especially hypertriglyceridemic, patients suffering from coronary atherosclerosis.

Fresh israeli jaffa sweetie juice consumption improves lipid metabolism and increases antioxidant capacity in hypercholesterolemic patients suffering from coronary artery disease: studies in vitro and in humans and positive changes in albumin and fibrinogen fractions.

The contents of the bioactive compounds in the pummelo-grapefruit hybrid juice named Israeli Jaffa Sweetie and their influence on humans suffering from hypercholesterolemia were studied. It was found that Sweetie juice has a high content of bioactive compounds and a high antioxidant potential. Then 72 hypercholesterolemic patients, ages 43-71 years, after coronary bypass surgery recruited from the Institute pool of volunteers, were randomly divided into two experimental (EG1 and EG2) groups and one control (CG) group, each comprising 24 patients. The diets of EG1 and EG2 patients were daily supplemented with 100 or 200 mL of fresh Sweetie juice, respectively. Before and after diet consumption serum lipid levels, albumin and fibrinogen fractions, and their antioxidant capacities were determined. After 30 consecutive days of Sweetie juice supplemented diets, improvements in serum lipids levels were found in EG1 and EG2 versus CG: (a) total cholesterol, 7.34 versus 8.02 mmol/L, -9.5%, and 6.73 versus 8.02 mmol/L, -16.1%, respectively; (b) low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, 5.63 versus 6.37 mmol/L, -11.6%, and 5.03 versus 6.37 mmol/L, -21.0%, respectively; (c) total glycerides, 2.01 versus 2.27 mmol/L, -11.5%, and 1.71 versus 2.27 mmol/L, -24.7%, respectively. Serum albumin concentration was increased but not significantly in EG1 and EG2 versus CG: 47.5 versus 44.5 g/L, +6.7%, and 47.9 versus 44.5 g/L, +7.6%, respectively. A significant increase in the serum, albumin, and fibrinogen antioxidant capacities in EG2 and to a lesser degree in EG1 was observed. No changes in the CG were found. In conclusion, fresh Sweetie juice contains high quantities of bioactive compounds and has a high antioxidant potential. Diet supplemented with this juice positively influences serum lipid, albumin, and fibrinogen levels and their antioxidant capacities. Addition of fresh Sweetie juice to generally accepted diets may be beneficial for hypercholesterolemic patients.

Preventive effects of diets supplemented with sweetie fruits in hypercholesterolemic patients suffering from coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Diets rich in vegetables and fruits prevent development of atherosclerosis. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the preventive effects of diets supplemented with a new kind of citrus fruit-pummelo-grapefruit hybrid in hypercholesterolemic patients suffering from coronary artery disease (CAD). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Sixty-six hypercholesterolemic volunteers after coronary bypass surgery ages 47-68 years were randomly divided into two experimental (EG1 and EG2) groups and one control (CG) group, 22 each. The diets of the patients of the experimental groups (EG1 and EG2) were supplemented with one or two peeled sweeties, respectively. A comprehensive clinical investigation of all 66 patients was done. Blood samples were collected before and after the investigation for a wide range of laboratory tests. RESULTS: A high content of dietary fibers and antioxidant compounds in peeled sweeties was found. After 30 days of the investigation, peeled sweeties-supplemented diets have decreased plasma lipids levels in EG1 and EG2 vs. CG group: (a) total cholesterol (TC)-7.38 vs. 8.08 mmol/L, - 8.7%, and 6.78 vs. 8.08. mmol/L, -16.1%, respectively; (b) low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)-5.65 vs. 6.39 mmol/L, - 1.6%, and 5.04 vs. 6.39 mmol/L, -21.2%, respectively; (c) triglycerides (TG)-2.01 vs. 2.27 mmol/L, -11.5%, and 1.71 vs. 2.27 mmol/L, -24.7%, respectively. In addition, a significant increase in the plasma antioxidant capacity in EG2, and to a lesser degree in EG1 groups, was observed. No changes in the studied indices in the patients of the CG were detected. CONCLUSION: Peeled sweeties have high contents of dietary fibers and antioxidant compounds. Diets supplemented with peeled sweeties positively influence plasma lipid metabolism and plasma antioxidant capacity in patients suffering from hypercholesterolemia. Therefore, the addition of peeled sweeties to a generally accepted antiatherosclerotic diet may be beneficial in prevention of atherosclerosis, mainly in hypercholesterolemic patients.