"Tall oil"-derived phytosterols reduce atherosclerosis in ApoE-deficient mice.

Abstract

We investigated the effects of a "tall oil"-derived phytosterol mixture (TODPM) on the formation of atherosclerotic lesions in apoE-deficient mice. TODPM was added at 2% (wt/wt) to the chow of nine mice; the control group had six animals. The diet of all animals contained 9% (wt/wt) fat and 0.15% (wt/wt) cholesterol. After 4 weeks, plasma total cholesterol levels were significantly reduced in the TODPM-treated mice (26.6 versus 42.0 mmol/L, P < .0001). The mean body weight of the TODPM-supplemented group was significantly higher at week 5 and throughout the study (29.4 versus 27.7 g, P < .05). The experiment was terminated at 18 weeks. Histological examination showed mature atherosclerotic lesions composed of foam cells underlying the endothelium, a mosaic of extracellular glycosaminoglycans, numerous apparently proliferative smooth muscle cells, and foci of cholesterol clefts in the control animals. By contrast, the TODPM-treated mice showed only early lesions containing mainly superficial foam cells. As assessed by morphometry, the lesion area in the aortic sinuses of TODPM-treated animals was less than half that of control animals (P < .0001). This reduced lesion area was accompanied by a substantial reduction in all lesional components, reflecting a delay in progression of atheromatous changes. A strong positive correlation (r = .69, P < .01) was found between plasma total cholesterol levels and lesion area in the aortic sinuses. TODPM also prevented the occurrence of xanthomatosis. We conclude that supplementation of a cholesterol-enriched diet with TODPM significantly lowers plasma cholesterol and retards development of atherosclerosis in apoE-deficient mice, suggesting a therapeutic potential for the mixture of phytosterols studied.

• Authors: M H Moghadasian, B M McManus, P H Pritchard, J J Frohlich
• Journal: Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology (Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol) Vol. 17 Issue 1 Pg. 119-26 (Jan 1997) ISSN: 1079-5642 [Print] United States
• PMID: 9012646 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Apolipoproteins E
• Phytosterols

Topics

• Animals
• Aorta (drug effects, pathology)
• Apolipoproteins E (deficiency)
• Arteriosclerosis (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Mice, Mutant Strains
• Phytosterols (administration & dosage)