Citrus Peel Can Lower Cholesterol

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Citrus peel can cut cholesterol

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.

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. "

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/3731377.stm

Published: 2004/05/20 08:52:39 GMT

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