Effect of Monascus purpureus-fermented rice on lipidemia and fatty liver in quail.

Monascus purpureus-fermented rice (MR), a preparation which has been shown to be hypolipidemic and antiatherogenic in rabbits and hamsters was fed to quail maintained on a high fat diet to determine if it could influence lipidemia and hepatic steatosis. MR was fed at two levels (0.8 or 1.

Elevated K-ras activity with cholestyramine and lovastatin, but not konjac mannan or niacin in lung--importance of mouse strain.

Our previous work established that hypocholesterolemic agents altered K-ras intracellular localization in lung. Here, we examined K-ras activity to define further its potential importance in lung carcinogenesis. K-ras activity in lungs from male A/J, Swiss and C57BL/6 mice was examined.

Structured triglycerides containing caprylic (8:0) and oleic (18:1) fatty acids reduce blood cholesterol concentrations and aortic cholesterol accumulation in hamsters.

The effects of structured triglycerides containing one long chain fatty acid (oleic acid, C18:1) and one short chain saturated fatty acid (caprylic acid, 8:0) on lipidemia, liver and aortic cholesterol, and fecal neutral sterol excretion were investigated in male Golden Syrian hamsters fed a hypercholesterolemic regimen consisting of 89.9% commercial ration to which was added 10% coconut oil and 0.1% cholesterol (w/w).

Conjugated linoleic acid isomers reduce blood cholesterol levels but not aortic cholesterol accumulation in hypercholesterolemic hamsters.

The aim of the present study was to characterize plasma lipids and lipoprotein cholesterol and glucose concentrations in hamsters fed either cis-9,trans-11 CLA (9c,11 tCLA); trans-10,cis-12 CLA (10t,12c CLA); or linoleic acid (LA) on the accumulation of aortic cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic hamsters. One hundred male F1B strain Syrian Golden Hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) (BioBreeders Inc., Watertown, MA) approximately 9 wk of age were housed in individual stainless steel hanging cages at room temperature with a 12-h light/dark cycle.

Different palm oil preparations reduce plasma cholesterol concentrations and aortic cholesterol accumulation compared to coconut oil in hypercholesterolemic hamsters.

Several studies have reported on the effect of refined, bleached and deodorized palm oil (RBD-PO) incorporation into the diet on blood cholesterol concentrations and on the development of atherosclerosis. However, very little work has been reported on the influence of red palm oil (RPO), which is higher in carotenoid and tocopherol content than RBD-PO. Thus, we studied the influence of RPO, RBD-PO and a RBD-PO plus red palm oil extract (reconstituted RBD-PO) on plasma cholesterol concentrations and aortic accumulation vs.

Dietary fiber: how did we get where we are?

Dietary fiber has been a topic of considerable interest among nutritionists and clinicians for the past 50 years. Many studies on fiber have concentrated on fiber isolates, resulting in findings that have ignored fiber as a component of fruits, vegetables, nuts, cereals, and legumes in the general diet. The principle actions of fiber are to alter the nature of the contents of the gastrointestinal tract and to modify the absorption of other nutrients and chemicals.

Conjugated linoleic acid isomer effects in atherosclerosis: growth and regression of lesions.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a mixture of positional and geometric isomers of octadecadienoic acid, has been shown to inhibit experimentally induced atherosclerosis in rabbits and also to cause significant regression of pre-established atheromatous lesions in rabbits. The two major CLA isomers (cis9,trans11 and trans10,cis12), now available at 90% purity, have been tested individually for their anti-atherogenic or lesion regression potency. The two major isomers and the mixture were fed for 90 d to rabbits fed 0.

Oral absorption of phytosterols and emulsified phytosterols by Sprague-Dawley rats.

Clinical studies have demonstrated that consumption of phytosterol esters in lipid-based foods decreases serum concentrations of total and LDL cholesterol. These substances represent minimal potential for adverse effects when consumed orally because of their low bioavailability. However, some studies have reported estrogenic and other effects in laboratory animals treated parenterally with phytosterols, demonstrating that these substances may have the potential to cause adverse effects if absorbed.

Serum and aortic levels of phytosterols in rabbits fed sitosterol or sitostanol ester preparations.

Campesterol is present in all the phytosterol-containing dietary hypocholesterolemic agents in current use. Campesterol is absorbed more efficiently than sitosterol, and the question of its possible atherogenicity has been raised. To test this possibility, rabbits were fed either a semipurified, cholesterol-free diet that has been shown to be atherogenic for this species or the same diet augmented with 0.

Effects of spermine-conjugated Bowman-Birk inhibitor (spermine-BBI) on carcinogenesis and cholesterol biosynthesis in mice.

Purpose: The goals of the studies reported here were to evaluate the effects of the soybean-derived protease inhibitor known as the Bowman-Birk inhibitor (BBI) and its spermine-conjugate (spermine-BBI) on the prevention of lung tumorigenesis and the reduction of heart disease parameters.

Methods: Both spermine-BBI and purified BBI (pBBI), at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight, were administered as intraperitoneal injections to animals treated with the chemical carcinogen 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA) to determine their effects on chemically induced lung tumorigenesis in A/J mice. In addition, the effects of spermine-BBI and pBBI on the aortic cholesterol content and the percent ester in the mice were determined.

Diet and cancer: what's next?

Our advances in knowledge of the epidemiology of cancer and of the nutritional and genetic effects on this disease have not yet been translated into successful treatment. This is due in part to our tendency toward reductionist thinking, dating to the days when one drug killed one bug. We could learn something by trying to reconcile the differences.

Treatment with lovastatin, cholestyramine or niacin alters K-ras membrane association in mouse lung in a strain-dependent manner: results in females.

Hypocholesterolemic drugs may themselves increase (cholestyramine, CS) or decrease (lovastatin, Lov) peripheral tissue de novo cholesterol biosynthesis. This will alter the abundance of prenyl groups and potentially increase (CS) or decrease (Lov) K-ras membrane localization, with possible pro- or anti-carcinogenic effects (K-ras is a proto-oncogene frequently mutated in lung cancer). Female A/J, Swiss, and C57BL/6 mice were fed 2 or 4% CS, 1% niacin, or injected with Lov three (Lov-3x) or five (Lov-5x) times per week.

Hypolipidemic and anti-atherogenic effects of long-term Cholestin (Monascus purpureus-fermented rice, red yeast rice) in cholesterol fed rabbits.

Long-term effects of Cholestin (Monascus purpureus rice; red yeast rice) on serum lipids and severity of atherosclerosis were examined in rabbits fed for 200 days on a semi-purified diet containing 0.25% cholesterol. Serum total cholesterol was 25 and 40% lower, respectively, in rabbits fed 0.

Cholesterol vehicle in experimental atherosclerosis 24: avocado oil.

Objective: To determine atherogenicity of avocado oil relative to saturated (coconut oil), monounsaturated (olive oil) and polyunsaturated (corn oil) fats.

Methods: New Zealand White rabbits were fed a semipurified diet containing 0.2% cholesterol and 14% fat for 90 days.

Alterations in membrane-bound and cytoplasmic K-ras protein levels in mouse lung induced by treatment with lovastatin, cholestyramine, or niacin: effects are highly mouse strain dependent.

Agents that either increase (cholestyramine, CS) or decrease (lovastatin, Lov) de novo peripheral cholesterol synthesis may increase (CS) or decrease (Lov) ras protein membrane localization by altering protein prenylation, and potentially have pro- or anti-carcinogenic effects. Male A/J, Swiss, and C57/BL6 mice were treated with 2 or 4% CS, 1% dietary niacin, or 25mg/kg of Lov three times per week (Lov-3X) or five times per week (Lov-5X). After 3 weeks, serum cholesterol and triglycerides were determined enzymatically.

Caloric restriction and experimental carcinogenesis.

Research marches on the feet of methodology. Advances are made when we have acquired the means to utilize the accrued information. In this way, investigation into the influence of energy restriction in cancer has gone through three distinct periods.