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On the anti-atherogenic effect of the antioxidant BHT in cholesterol-fed rabbits: inverse relation between serum triglycerides and atheromatous lesions

Authors :
Lars Berglund
Ingemar Björkhem
Peter Henriksson
Amir Babiker
Ayman Al-Schurbaji
Ulf Diczfalusy
Anna Freyschuss
Source :
Biochimica et biophysica acta. 1534(2-3)
Publication Year :
2002

Abstract

We have shown that inclusion of the antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) in the diet protects against development of atherosclerotic lesions in cholesterol-fed rabbits. In parallel, BHT treatment results in increased plasma triglyceride levels. The present study explores the relationship between the triglyceride-inducing and protective effects of BHT in two different studies. The combined material contains 22 rabbits fed cholesterol and 18 rabbits fed cholesterol in combination with 1% BHT. In the BHT group there was an inverse relationship between triglyceride exposure/cholesterol exposure and extent of lesions with r=0.74 (P=0.0005). Our results show that increased triglyceride exposure parallels the anti-atherogenic effect of BHT. There was no significant correlation between atheromatosis and serum BHT levels. beta-very low density lipoprotein (beta-VLDL) from cholesterol and BHT animals was triglyceride-enriched and smaller compared to beta-VLDL from cholesterol-fed animals, but there was no significant association between the anti-atherogenic effect of BHT and particle size or apolipoprotein pattern of LDL or beta-VLDL. LDL isolated from rabbits treated with cholesterol and BHT was less sensitive to oxidative modification than LDL isolated from rabbits treated with cholesterol only. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that the degree of triglyceride exposure may be an important modulator of the anti-atherogenic effect of an antioxidant.

Details

ISSN :
00063002
Volume :
1534
Issue :
2-3
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Biochimica et biophysica acta
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....095f9842f243a3cda8806c1f1fc28ed5