Prune suppresses ovariectomy-induced hypercholesterolemia in rats

Elevated cholesterol among women who have experienced natural or surgical m enopause has been linked to ovarian hormone deficiency. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of prune, a good source of dietary f iber and phytochemicals, on lowering cholesterol in an ovariectomized (ovx) rat model. Forty-eight 90-day-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups: sham-operated (sham) + control diet, ovx + contro l diet, ovx + low-dose (LD; 5%) prune, and ovx + high-dose (HD; 25%) prune. After 45 days of treatment, rats were euthanized and tissues were collecte d for analyses. Ovariectomy elevated serum total cholesterol by 22% compare d with sham, and HD prune diet prevented this increase without affecting hi gh density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations. Animal fed the HD prune diet had 13% lower liver total lipids compared with ovx animals. Dose-respo nse studies should be conducted to establish the effectiveness of prune in prevention of hypercholesterolemia in postmenopausal women who are not on e strogen replacement therapy and seek dietary alternatives. Mechanistic stud ies also are needed to establish its mode of action. (C) Elsevier Science I nc. 2000. All rights reserved.