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Prickly Pear (Opuntia sp.) Pectin Reverses Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor Suppression Induced by a Hypercholesterolemic Diet in Guinea Pigs¹

Department of Nutrition and Food Science and Nutritional Sciences Program, University of Arizona, Tucson AZ 85721 ^* CIIDIR-IPN, Unidad Michoacan, Jiquilpan de Juarez, Michoacan, Mexico 59510

The effects of prickly pear pectin on plasma LDL metabolism were investigated by feeding guinea pigs either a diet containing 15 g/100 g lard and 0.25 g/100 g cholesterol (LC diet) or the LC diet in which cellulose was partially replaced (2.5 g/100 g) by prickly pear pectin (LC-P diet). The LC-P diet lowered plasma LDL cholesterol concentrations by 33% (P < 0.001). Low density lipoprotein composition was modified by intake of prickly pear pectin; the relative percentages of free and esterified cholesterol were lower and triglycerides were higher in LDL from animals fed the LC-P diet (P < 0.05). Intake of prickly pear pectin did not affect hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity; however, hepatic free and esterified cholesterol concentrations were lowered by 46 and 64%, respectively. Hepatic apolipoprotein B/E receptor expression (B_max) was 60% higher in animals fed the LC-P diet (P < 0.01). Similar to the in vitro data, receptor-mediated LDL fractional catabolic rates were 190% higher in animals fed the LC-P diet (P < 0.05), whereas apolipoprotein LDL flux rates were not affected. Apolipoprotein LDL pool size and fractional catabolic rates exhibited a significant correlation (r = -0.52, P < 0.01). These data indicate that an increase in apolipoprotein B/E receptor expression is a major metabolic response by which intake of prickly pear pectin decreases plasma LDL concentrations.

KEY WORDS: • low density lipoprotein • guinea pigs • apolipoprotein B/E receptor • pectin • low density lipoprotein kinetics

¹ Supported by a grant-in-aid from the American Heart Association, Arizona Affiliate (IG-2-11-91).

² To whom correspondence and reprint requests should be addressed.

Manuscript received 14 May 1992. Revision accepted 21 August 1992.