Effect of daily intake of a low-alcohol orange beverage on cardiovascular risk factors in hypercholesterolemic humans

• Published in: Food research international 2019-02, Vol.116, p.168-174
• Main Authors: Cerrillo, I., Escudero-López, B., Ortega, A., Martín, F., Fernández-Pachón, M.S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Alcohol; Alcoholic Beverages; Antioxidants; Bioactive compounds; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Cardiovascular risk factor; Catalase - metabolism; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; Cholesterol, LDL - blood; Citrus sinensis; Female; Fruit and Vegetable Juices; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia - blood; Hypercholesterolemia - complications; Hypercholesterolemic humans; Inflammation; Lipid profile; Male; Orange; Oxidative Stress; Risk Factors; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances - metabolism
• ISSN: 0963-9969; 1873-7145
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2018.08.008

Oxidative stress, inflammation status, endothelial dysfunction, and imbalanced lipid metabolism play a major role in cardiovascular disease. Bioactive compounds and moderate alcohol consumption have been associated with decreased cardiovascular risk. This study aimed to evaluate the effect on cardiovascular risk factors of a low-alcohol beverage derived from the alcoholic fermentation of orange juice. Eighteen individuals with moderately high cholesterol levels were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 9) who drank 500 mL/day of the orange beverage for 2 weeks or a control group (n = 9) who drank no orange beverage. Blood samples were drawn at the beginning and end of the study period. Consumption of the beverage significantly decreased plasma levels of total cholesterol (−15.6%), LDL-cholesterol (−17.8%), LDL-cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio (−21.4%), catalase (−25.5%), TBARS (−42.6%), and sVCAM-1 (−5.8%). This orange beverage would have a potential capacity to improve cardiovascular risk in hypercholesterolemic humans, supporting its future consideration as a functional beverage. [Display omitted] •Low-alcohol orange beverage may have protective effects against cardiovascular risk factors.•Low-alcohol orange beverage decreased plasma levels of total and LDL-cholesterol.•Low-alcohol orange beverage decreased the marker of lipid peroxidation TBARS.•Low-alcohol orange beverage reduced the endothelial dysfunction marker s-VCAM-1.