Grapefruit pectin inhibits hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis in miniature swine

• Published in: Clinical cardiology (Mahwah, N.J.) Vol. 11; no. 9; p. 597
• Main Authors: Baekey, P A, Cerda, J J, Burgin, C W, Robbins, F L, Rice, R W, Baumgartner, T G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-09-1988
• Subjects: Animals; Cholesterol - blood; Citrus; Coronary Artery Disease - prevention & control; Diet, Atherogenic; Dietary Fiber - pharmacology; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Hypercholesterolemia - prevention & control; Pectins - pharmacology; Random Allocation; Swine; Swine, Miniature; Triglycerides - blood
• ISSN: 0160-9289
• DOI: 10.1002/clc.4960110903

We studied the effect of dietary grapefruit pectin on plasma cholesterol and the development of atherosclerosis in 18 miniature swine. Pigs were randomized to one of three diets: no added fat (I), added fat/cellulose (II), and added fat/pectin (III). Plasma cholesterol was measured monthly. Arteries were examined for atherosclerosis at the termination of the experiment. Pectin supplementation of an added fat diet resulted in a significantly lower average plasma cholesterol than did cellulose supplementation (168 mg/dl vs. 249 mg/dl, p less than 0.05). The pectin-fed pigs also developed less atherosclerosis of their aortas (1.1% vs. 7.0%, p less than 0.05) and coronary arteries (2.9% vs. 26.2% cross-sectional narrowing, p less than 0.05). Plasma cholesterol levels correlated with the severity of aortic (r = 0.836) and coronary artery (r = 0.735) atherosclerosis. We conclude that dietary grapefruit pectin supplementation inhibits hypercholesterolemia and appears to be proportionately protective against atherosclerosis.