Pr. Guimaraes et al., Eggplant (Solanum melongena) infusion has a modest and transitory effect on hypercholesterolemic subjects, BRAZ J MED, 33(9), 2000, pp. 1027-1036
Citations number
27
Categorie Soggetti
Medical Research General Topics
Journal title
BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL AND BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
Eggplant (Solanum melongena) is consumed extensively in Brazil. It has been
believed that infusion of a powdered preparation of the fruit may reduce s
erum cholesterol. However, there are few documented reports on its effects
on cholesterol metabolism and its possible hypocholesterolemic effect has n
ot been proved by well-controlled studies. The aim of the present study was
to observe the effects of S. melongena on the serum cholesterol and trigly
cerides of 38 hypercholesterolemic human volunteers ingesting S. melongena
infusion for five weeks. Thirty-eight hypercholesterolemic subjects receivi
ng either S. melongena infusion (N = 19) or placebo (N = 19) participated i
n two clinical experiments in which the effect of S. melongena infusion was
studied with (N = 16) or without (N = 35) dietary orientation. Total chole
sterol and its fractions, triglycerides, and apolipoproteins A and B were m
easured in blood at the beginning of the experiment and three and five week
s thereafter. No differences were observed compared to control. Intraindivi
dual analysis showed that S. melongena infusion significantly reduced the b
lood levels of total and LDL cholesterol and of apolipoprotein B. After die
tary orientation, no intra- or intergroup differences were seen for any of
the parameters analyzed. The results suggest that S. melongena infusion had
a modest and transitory effect, which was not different from that obtained
with standard orientation for dyslipidemia patients (diet and physical act
ivities).