X-Message-Number: 24134
From: "Basie" <>
Subject: Citrus peel can cut cholesterol
Date: Sat, 22 May 2004 18:55:10 -0400

Citrus peel can cut cholesterol


An alternatives to standard drugs?
Citrus peel may not be very appetising - but research suggests it could be
very good for you.
US scientists fattened up hamsters on a high-cholesterol diet, and then fed
them compounds found in tangerine and orange peel.

They found the compounds signficantly lowered the animals' levels of LDL
cholesterol - which is associated with heart disease.

The study is published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry.

  We believe that super-flavonoids have the potential to rival or even beat
the cholesterol-lowering effect of some prescription drugs.

Dr Elzbieta Kurowska
The compounds, known as polymethoxylated flavones (PMFs), are antioxidants
that belong to a group of plant chemicals called flavonoids. Flavonoids
exist in a variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as tea and red wine.

A pilot study suggests that humans derive the same benefit from the peel
compounds, and researchers are testing whether a supplement with combines
PMFs with a form of vitamin E can reduce cholesterol levels.

Lead researcher Dr Elzbieta Kurowska, of the Canadian company KGK Synergize,
said citrus juice contains only a small amount of the relevant PMFs as the
compounds are not soluble in water. Peel, on the other hand, contains 20
times the level.

In addition, the peel-derived compounds are more concentrated and easily
absorbed and metabolised by the body.

In the study hamsters were given the two PMFs most commonly found in citrus
fruits - tangeretin and nobiletin.

A diet containing just 1% PMFs was enough to cut the animals' cholesterol by
up to 40%.

Powerful effect

Other hamsters were given a diet enriched with two other flavonoids,
hesperetin and naringenin.

This diet also lowered LDL cholesterol - but it took three times as much of
the compounds to yield the same effect seen with the PMFs.

Dr Kurowska said it appears the compounds may work by lowering the secretion
of cholesterol from the liver.

She said: "Our study has shown that super-flavonoids have the most potent
cholesterol-lowering effect of any other citrus flavonoid.

"We believe that super-flavonoids have the potential to rival or even beat
the cholesterol-lowering effect of some prescription drugs, without the risk
of side effects."

The Department of Health announced earlier this month that
cholesterol-lowering statin drugs - previously only available on
prescription - were to be made available over-the-counter at pharmacists.

Sarah Schenker, a dietician from the British Nutrition Foundation, said: "It
is not a big surprise that they have found something in plants that can have
this effect - after all, cholesterol-reducing products such as Benecol
contain extract of bark.

"But whether they are useful will depend on how strong their effect is.
Statins are very strong drugs."

Previous research has also indicated that citrus juice can reduce the risk
of cancer.

Judy O'Sullivan, a cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: "We
will be interested to see if similar results emerge from long-term studies
involving people.

"It is also important to stress that whatever the cholesterol-reducing
potential of citrus peel, our advice remains the same: regular physical
activity and eating a diet high in fruit and vegetables and low in saturated
fat are the best ways to avoid high cholesterol."

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