ASCORBIC-ACID IN RELATION TO LIPID-PEROXIDATION IN HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIC GUINEA-PIGS

The effect of ascorbic acid on serum lipids and lipid peroxidation has been studied in guinea pigs kept on a high cholesterol diet for 6 and 16 weeks. After 6 weeks, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprot ein (LDL), very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and triglycerides (TG) decreased significantly (p<0.001) in ascorbic acid-treated (groups 3 and 4) guinea pigs in comparison to their levels in hypercholesterolem ic guinea pigs (group 2). Similar results for TC, LDL, and VLDL were o bserved after 16 weeks. However, the TG levels showed a nonsignificant decrease (NS) in group 3 and a significant decrease in group 4 (p<0.0 5) in comparison to those in group 2, after the 16 weeks study. The hi gh-density lipoprotein (HDL) level after both 6 and 16 weeks showed a significant increase in the ascorbic acid-treated animals. The serum l ipid peroxide level of animals fed both cholesterol and ascorbic acid showed a significant decrease p<0.01). These results suggest that asco rbic acid lowers the serum level of cholesterol and protects lipids ag ainst peroxidative damage induced by hypercholesterolemia.