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Dietary ß-Carotene Reduces Serum Lipid Concentrations in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats Fed a Vitamin A-Fortified and Cholesterol-Enriched Diet

Human Nutrition Program, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 ^* Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Kuwait University, Kuwait

The effects of dietary ß-carotene on serum lipid concentrations were examined in spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats. Groups of SH rats were fed a semipurified, vitamin A-fortified and cholesterol-enriched diet supplemented with 0, 125, 250 or 500 mg ß-carotene/kg diet for a period of 44 d. ß-Carotene supplementation resulted in significant dose-related decreases in serum total, LDL and HDL cholesterol concentrations and serum total, VLDL and LDL triacylglycerol concentrations. The ratio of HDL cholesterol to total cholesterol was unchanged or slightly increased by dietary ß-carotene. The study suggests that dietary ß-carotene has antihyperlipidemic effects in SH rats. The effects in humans and the mechanism of the effects remain to be investigated.

KEY WORDS: • ß-carotene • cholesterol • triacylglycerol • lipoproteins • rats

¹ As a partial fulfillment for her Master of Science degree in biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, University of Kuwait. The study was performed at the University of Michigan.

Manuscript received 3 March 1992. Revision accepted 13 May 1992.