Eggplant (Solanum melongena) infusion has a modest and transitory effect on hypercholesterolemic subjects

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).