| For medical practitioners and the general public - Cholesterol Journal Article Catalog. |
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| Reducing the risk for stroke in patients with myocardial infarction: a Myocardial Ischemia Reduction with Aggressive Cholesterol Lowering (MIRACL) substudy Gotto, A. M., Jr. and J. A. Farmer (2002), Circulation 106(13): 1595-8. |
| Reducing total dietary fat without reducing saturated fatty acids does not significantly lower total plasma cholesterol concentrations in normal males Barr, S. L., R. Ramakrishnan, et al. (1992), Am J Clin Nutr 55(3): 675-81. Abstract: Forty-eight healthy male students ate an average American diet (AAD) with 37% of calories from fat and 16% from saturated fatty acids for 3 wk. During the next 7 wk, one-third of the students continued to eat the AAD, one-third switched to a 30%-fat diet with 9% saturated fatty acids (Step 1 diet), and one-third switched to a 30%-fat diet with 14% saturated fatty acids (Sat diet). The Step 1 group had a significant reduction in plasma total cholesterol (TC) (0.36 +/- 0.37 mmol/L) compared with the AAD group (0.07 +/- 0.39 mmol/L) and the Sat group (0.08 +/- 0.25 mmol/L). The Sat group did not differ from the AAD group. Changes in low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol paralleled changes in total cholesterol. High-density-lipoprotein cholesterol fell significantly in the Step 1 group (0.11 +/- 0.08 mmol/L) compared with the AAD group. Plasma triglycerides did not differ between groups at the end of the randomized periods. In summary, reduction of dietary fat intake from 37% to 30% of calories did not lower plasma total and LDL cholesterol concentrations unless the reduction in total fat was achieved by decreasing saturated fatty acids. |
| Reduction in body weight and cholesterol in spontaneously obese dogs by dehydroepiandrosterone Kurzman, I. D., E. G. MacEwen, et al. (1990), Int J Obes 14(2): 95-104. Abstract: We studied the effect(s) of exogenous dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in spontaneously obese dogs. Nineteen euthyroid obese and six non-obese normal dogs were evaluated. Dogs received DHEA for three months at an escalating dose of 30-75 mg/kg p.o. daily. We found a 3 percent reduction in total body weight/month in 68 percent of the obese dogs, without reduction in food intake. The normal dogs did not lose weight or reduce food intake. Serum cholesterol in obese dogs went from 226 to 173 mg/dl post-treatment and in normal dogs from 128 to 89 mg/dl. Analysis of lipoproteins in four normal dogs revealed that the marked reduction in cholesterol most significantly affected the LDL-HDL1 fraction. |
| Reduction in cholesterol and sialic acid content protects cells from the toxic effects of beta-amyloid peptides Wang, S. S., D. L. Rymer, et al. (2001), J Biol Chem 276(45): 42027-34. Abstract: beta-Amyloid (Abeta) is the primary protein component of senile plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease and has been implicated in the neurotoxicity associated with the disease. A variety of evidence points to the importance of Abeta-membrane interactions in the mechanism of Abeta neurotoxicity and indicates that cholesterol and gangliosides are particularly important for Abeta aggregation and binding to membranes. We investigated the effects of cholesterol and sialic acid depletion on Abeta-induced GTPase activity in cells, a step implicated in the mechanism of Abeta toxicity, and Abeta-induced cell toxicity. Cholesterol reduction and depletion of membrane-associated sialic acid residues both significantly reduced the Abeta-induced GTPase activity. In addition, cholesterol and membrane-associated sialic acid residue depletion or inhibition of cholesterol and ganglioside synthesis protected PC12 cells from Abeta-induced toxicity. These results indicate the importance of Abeta-membrane interactions in the mechanism of Abeta toxicity. In addition, these results suggest that control of cellular cholesterol and/or ganglioside content may prove useful in the prevention or treatment of Alzheimer's disease. |
| Reduction in infarct size by chronic amlodipine treatment in cholesterol-fed rabbits Hoshida, S., N. Yamashita, et al. (1998), Atherosclerosis 138(1): 163-70. Abstract: Calcium (Ca)-dependent factors, including cholesterol-induced changes in membrane Ca permeability and Ca deposition into lesions, may contribute to plaque formation and stability during the early and late stages of atherogenesis. Amlodipine can reduce atheroma formation in cholesterol-fed rabbits and may be cardioprotective. We therefore examined the effects of chronic amlodipine treatment (5 mg/kg daily for 10 weeks, p.o.) on infarct size after 30-min coronary occlusion/48-h reperfusion in rabbits fed a diet with or without 1% cholesterol. Infarct size was significantly larger in cholesterol-fed rabbits (72.0 +/- 3.5%, n = 9, mean +/- S.E.M.) than in normal-fed rabbits (47.1 +/- 4.9%, n = 9, P < 0.05). Amlodipine treatment effectively reversed the infarct size augmentation in cholesterol-fed rabbits (46.3 +/- 6.3%, n = 9, P < 0.05), but did not affect infarct size in normal-fed rabbits (51.0 +/- 4.7%, n = 8). In both cholesterol-fed and normal-fed rabbits, Ca content and leukocyte accumulation as assessed by myeloperoxidase activity were significantly higher in the ischemic myocardium than in the nonischemic myocardium. However, Ca content and leukocyte accumulation were markedly elevated in the ischemic myocardium of cholesterol-fed rabbits compared with normal-fed rabbits. Amlodipine treatment effectively reversed this elevation. Acetylcholine showed a marked reduction in endothelium-dependent relaxation in the aorta of cholesterol-fed rabbits, which also was reversed by amlodipine treatment. These results indicate that chronic amlodipine treatment reduces infarct size only in cholesterol-fed rabbits. |
| Reduction in serum cholesterol with pravastatin improves endothelium-dependent coronary vasomotion in patients with hypercholesterolemia Egashira, K., Y. Hirooka, et al. (1994), Circulation 89(6): 2519-24. Abstract: BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine if cholesterol-lowering therapy improves endothelium-dependent coronary vasomotion in patients with hypercholesterolemia. METHODS AND RESULTS: Nine patients with hypercholesterolemia were studied before and after cholesterol-lowering therapy with pravastatin (an inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase) for 6 +/- 3 months, which lowered serum cholesterol from 272 +/- 8 to 187 +/- 16 mg/dL (P <.01). Control patients with serum cholesterol of 218 +/- 23 mg/dL also were studied twice in a similar interval (8 +/- 2 months) with no cholesterol-lowering drugs. Acetylcholine (the endothelium-dependent vasodilator) and papaverine and nitrate (endothelium-independent vasodilators) were infused into the study coronary artery. Changes in the diameter of the epicardial coronary artery and coronary blood flow were assessed by quantitative coronary arteriography and an intracoronary Doppler catheter. In patients with hypercholesterolemia, acetylcholine-induced vasoconstriction of the epicardial artery was less (P <.05) and the acetylcholine-induced increases in coronary blood flow were greater (P <.001) after than before pravastatin. In control patients, responses of the epicardial coronary artery and coronary blood flow to acetylcholine did not change over the follow-up period. The vasomotor responses to papaverine or nitrate were similar between the two groups, and no interval changes in their responses were noted in either group. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that cholesterol-lowering therapy with pravastatin may improve endothelium-dependent coronary vasomotion, which may possibly contribute to the improvement of myocardial perfusion as well as the regression of coronary atherosclerosis. |
| Reduction in serum lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase activity in natural cases of pneumonia in calves Nakagawa, H. and N. Katoh (2001), Vet Res Commun 25(1): 27-31. Abstract: In experimental calf pneumonia induced by inoculations of Pasteurella haemolytica or bovine herpesvirus-1, lipoprotein lipid concentrations and lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity decrease. The purpose of this study was to examine whether similar changes in lipoproteins occur in natural cases of calf pneumonia. When monitored in a time-course study, the activity of LCAT, and the concentrations of free cholesterol, cholesteryl esters, phospholipids and triglycerides were steadily decreased. No significant decreases in LCAT activity or lipid concentrations were detected in sera from cows with mastitis. These results, coupled with the previous findings on experimental calf pneumonia, indicate that, while decreases in LCAT activity and the LCAT-related lipid concentrations are involved in the pathogenesis of calf pneumonia, this is not the case for all inflammatory diseases. |
| Reduction in serum lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase activity prior to the occurrence of ketosis and milk fever in cows Nakagawa-Ueta, H. and N. Katoh (2000), J Vet Med Sci 62(12): 1263-7. Abstract: Lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) is the enzyme responsible for production of cholesteryl esters in plasma. The LCAT activity is reduced in cows with fatty liver developed during the nonlactating stage and those with the fatty liver-related postparturient diseases such as ketosis. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether reduced LCAT activity during the nonlactating stage could be detected before the occurrence of postparturient diseases. Sera from 24 cows were collected at approximately 10-day intervals from -48 to +14 days from parturition. Of the 24 cows, 14 were apparently healthy, whereas 7 had ketosis and 3 had milk fever at around parturition. Of the 14 healthy cows, 7 had unaltered LCAT activity during the observation period, whereas 7 showed reduced activity from -20 to +14 days. Ketosis and milk fever occurred at from -3 to +10 days, but reductions of LCAT activity in diseased cows had already been observed from days -20 to 0. These results suggest that LCAT activity is virtually unaffected during the peripartum period at least in some healthy cows and also that the reduction in LCAT activity can be detected before the occurrence of ketosis and milk fever. |
| Reduction in serum total cholesterol and risks of coronary events and cerebral infarction in Japanese men: the Kyushu Lipid Intervention Study Sasaki, J., K. Arakawa, et al. (2003), Circ J 67(6): 473-8. Abstract: Lowering serum total cholesterol is shown to decrease the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in Western countries,but evidence is limited regarding cerebral infarction (CI). The present study used the Kyushu Lipid Intervention Study to examine the risks of CHD events and CI in relation to reduction in serum total cholesterol. Subjects were 4,615 men aged 45-74 years with serum total cholesterol of 220 mg/dl (5.68 mmol/L) or greater who had no history of CHD events or stroke. CHD events and CI numbered 125 and 92, respectively, in a 5-year follow-up. After adjustment for potential confounding factors, the relative risks of CHD events and CI for 15% or greater reduction in total cholesterol, compared with less than 5% reduction, were 0.78 (95% confidence limit CL0.46-1.32) and 0.39 (95% CL 0.22-0.69), respectively. As compared with on-treatment cholesterol levels of 240 mg/dl (6.20 mmol/L)or higher, the risk of CHD events was approximately 50% lower across 3 categories below 240 mg/dl (6.20 mmol/L), and that of CI was 70%lower at 2 categories below 220 mg/dl (5.68 mmol/L). Lowering serum total cholesterol below 220 mg/dl (5.68 mmol/L) seems desirable with regard to the prevention of CI. |
| Reduction in stroke with gemfibrozil in men with coronary heart disease and low HDL cholesterol: The Veterans Affairs HDL Intervention Trial (VA-HIT) Bloomfield Rubins, H., J. Davenport, et al. (2001), Circulation 103(23): 2828-33. Abstract: BACKGROUND: A low level of HDL cholesterol has been identified as a risk factor for stroke in observational studies. METHODS AND RESULTS: Our objective was to determine whether treatment aimed at raising HDL cholesterol and lowering triglycerides reduces stroke in men with coronary heart disease and low levels of both HDL and LDL cholesterol. The study was a placebo-controlled, randomized trial conducted in 20 Veterans Affairs medical centers. A total of 2531 men with coronary heart disease, with mean HDL cholesterol 0.82 mmol/L (31.5 mg/dL) and mean LDL cholesterol 2.9 mmol/L (111 mg/dL), were randomized to gemfibrozil 1200 mg/d or placebo and were followed up for 5 years. Strokes were confirmed by a blinded adjudication committee. Relative risks were derived from Cox proportional hazards models. There were 134 confirmed strokes, 90% of which were ischemic. Seventy-six occurred in the placebo group (9 fatal) and 58 in the gemfibrozil group (3 fatal), for a relative risk reduction, adjusted for baseline variables, of 31% (95% CI, 2% to 52%, P=0.036). The reduction in risk was evident after 6 to 12 months. Patients with baseline HDL cholesterol below the median may have been more likely to benefit from treatment than those with higher HDL cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS: In men with coronary heart disease, low HDL cholesterol, and low LDL cholesterol, gemfibrozil reduces stroke incidence. |
| Reduction in virulence of Naegleria fowleri following growth with cholesterol John, D. T. and C. V. McCutchen (1995), Folia Parasitol (Praha) 42(3): 236-8. Abstract: It has been reported that the virulence of axenically cultivated Entamoeba histolytica increases following growth with cholesterol. The purpose of this study was to determine whether cholesterol would enhance the virulence of axenically cultivated Naegleria fowleri. Amoebae were cultivated in axenic medium with (100 micrograms/ml) or without cholesterol for 6 months and tested in mice for changes in virulence. After 6 months of continuous cultivation. N. fowleri grown with cholesterol was less virulent for mice than the same strain grown without cholesterol. |
| Reduction of atherogenic risk factors by short-term weight reduction. Evidence of the efficacy of National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines for the obese Schieffer, B., D. Moore, et al. (1991), Klin Wochenschr 69(4): 163-7. Abstract: Five hundred and ninety-nine overweight patients participated for at least 4 weeks in the weight reducing and physical activity promoting Diet and Fitness Center program at Duke University. Twenty-three percent were diabetic and 49% hypertensive. With only modest weight loss (11.8 kg in males and 8.2 kg in females) abnormal levels of blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides normalized. It was very rewarding to see these results achieved in a very limited period of time. Improvements in the lipid profile were consistent with the predicted outcome of obesity treatment stated by the National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines. |
| Reduction of blood pressure, plasma cholesterol, and atherosclerosis by elevated endothelial nitric oxide van Haperen, R., M. de Waard, et al. (2002), J Biol Chem 277(50): 48803-7. Abstract: In the vascular system, nitric oxide is generated by endothelial NO synthase (eNOS). NO has pleiotropic effects, most of which are believed to be atheroprotective. Therefore, it has been argued that patients suffering from cardiovascular disease could benefit from an increase in eNOS activity. However, increased NO production can cause oxidative damage, cell toxicity, and apoptosis and hence could be atherogenic rather than beneficial. To study the in vivo effects of increased eNOS activity, we created transgenic mice overexpressing human eNOS. Aortic blood pressure was approximately 20 mm Hg lower in the transgenic mice compared with control mice because of lower systemic vascular resistance. The effects of eNOS overexpression on diet-induced atherosclerosis were studied in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. Elevation of eNOS activity decreased blood pressure (approximately 20 mm Hg) and plasma levels of cholesterol (approximately 17%), resulting in a reduction in atherosclerotic lesions by 40%. We conclude that an increase in eNOS activity is beneficial and provides protection against atherosclerosis. |
| Reduction of BM 15.766-induced 7-dehydrocholesterol accumulation by bezafibrate and mevinolin in rats. A non-isotopic in vivo test system for compounds reducing cholesterol synthesis Pill, J., E. C. Witte, et al. (1990), Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 341(6): 552-6. Abstract: The effects of mevinolin, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG)-CoA reductase inhibitor and bezafibrate, a modulator of lipoprotein metabolism, were measured on BM 15.766-induced 7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC) accumulation in liver and serum of rats. BM 15.766, an inhibitor of delta 7 sterol reductase, leads to an accumulation of 7-DHC, which can be used as a measure of cholesterol (CH) synthesis de novo. The investigations were carried out to evaluate the usefulness of this new non-isotopic in vivo method for testing compounds that affect directly and indirectly the CH-biosynthetic pathway. Mevinolin showed a dose-dependent reduction of BM 15.766-induced 7-DHC accumulation after a single oral dose. The dose range for reduction of 7-DHC in the liver of rats was comparable with that for serum CH-lowering in humans. Bezafibrate reduced the BM 15.766-induced 7-DHC accumulation in liver in a dose- and time-dependent manner. These findings agree with the reported reduced activity of HMG-CoA reductase and support the view, that bezafibrate reduces CH biosynthesis by modulation of lipoprotein metabolism. The 7-DHC levels in serum do not reflect those in the liver and cannot be used as a measure of CH biosynthesis. The investigations show that BM 15.766-induced 7-DHC accumulation in liver of rats is an appropriate measure for CH de novo synthesis and can be used for testing compounds that interfere directly and indirectly with the CH-biosynthetic pathway. In contrast to previously described methods, no radiolabelled precursors are necessary.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) |
| Reduction of bovine plasma cholesterol concentration by partial interruption of enterohepatic circulation of bile salts: a novel hypocholesterolemic model Chen, Z., T. H. Herdt, et al. (1995), J Lipid Res 36(7): 1544-56. Abstract: Interruption of enterohepatic circulation (EHC) of bile salts in several species is known to cause a significant decrease in plasma concentrations of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, but to have little effect on high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. The present study, for the first time, demonstrates that partial interruption of EHC dramatically reduces both plasma LDL and HDL cholesterol concentrations in cattle. Five adult Holstein cows were surgically altered to allow controlled portions of bile flow to be diverted from the body. The animals were fed a low-fat, cholesterol-free diet. In two experiments, bile was diverted at 50% and 22% of total flow rates. By day 8 of diversion, both rates reduced mean plasma cholesterol from baseline (85 mg/dl) to about 8 and 18 mg/dl, respectively. Cholesterol was reduced in equal proportions in all lipoprotein fractions. In addition, plasma concentrations of triglycerides and phospholipids were also dramatically reduced. All of these plasma lipids returned to baseline within 1 week after restoration of bile flow. To determine the hepatic response to bile diversion, liver cholesterol concentrations, cholesterol synthesis rates, and LDL receptor-binding activities were determined in biopsy samples. In response to bile diversion, hepatic cholesteryl esters were markedly depleted while hepatic cholesterol synthesis rates were increased by more than 10-fold. Nevertheless, because the basal cholesterol synthesis rate was so low, it was estimated that the increase in synthesis would have supplied no more than 5% of the sterols depleted during bile diversion (1.2 vs. 25 mmol/day). LDL receptor-binding activity was significantly elevated, suggesting an increased uptake of plasma lipoprotein cholesterol by the liver. These results suggest that the unique sensitivity of bovine plasma cholesterol to enterohepatic circulation interruption might occur as a result of the inherently low rate of hepatic cholesterol synthesis in cattle. This hypocholesterolemic model might serve as an interesting tool for the study of factors regulating plasma HDL cholesterol. |
| Reduction of cholesterol absorption by dietary oleinate and fish oil in African green monkeys Parks, J. S. and J. R. Crouse (1992), J Lipid Res 33(4): 559-68. Abstract: To determine whether diets enriched in monounsaturated or n-3 fatty acids cause a reduction in cholesterol absorption relative to those more enriched in saturated fatty acids, we measured cholesterol absorption in 18 African green monkeys fed diets enriched in lard, oleinate (oleic acid-rich safflower oil), or fish oil at two levels of dietary cholesterol (0.05 vs. 0.77 mg/kcal). All animals were initially challenged with the lard, high cholesterol diet to ascertain their responsiveness to dietary cholesterol. Based on the results of this challenge, low versus high responders were equally distributed in assignation to the low (n = 6) and high (n = 12) cholesterol regimens. Within each level of dietary cholesterol animals consumed all three dietary fats in random sequences during three experimental phases each lasting 9-12 months with a monkey chow washout period between each phase, so that each animal served as its own control. During each dietary phase measurements of plasma lipids and cholesterol absorption were performed. The animals fed the higher versus lower level of dietary cholesterol had significantly higher plasma total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations and lower percentage cholesterol absorption; high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels were not affected by the level of dietary cholesterol. Dietary fish oil resulted in a 20-30% reduction (P less than 0.01) in total plasma and LDL cholesterol and a 30-40% reduction (P less than 0.01) in HDL cholesterol concentrations compared to lard and oleinate regardless of the level of dietary cholesterol. At the high level of cholesterol intake, the oleinate and fish oil diets resulted in significantly lower percentage cholesterol absorption compared to the lard fat diet (35 +/- 2%, 34 +/- 3%, 41 +/- 4%, respectively). At the lower level of dietary cholesterol, percentage cholesterol absorption values were higher than those at the high cholesterol intake (45-52% vs. 34-41%) but were not affected by the type of dietary fat. There was a significant positive correlation between plasma LDL cholesterol concentrations and percentage cholesterol absorption for the oleinate and lard diets at the high level of dietary cholesterol and a significant inverse association between plasma HDL cholesterol and percentage cholesterol absorption. We conclude that the type of dietary fat can influence cholesterol absorption in African green monkeys and that oleinate and fish oil reduce cholesterol absorption relative to lard when a high amount of cholesterol (0.77 mg/kcal) is present in the diet. |
| Reduction of cholesterol and glycoalkaloid levels in transgenic potato plants by overexpression of a type 1 sterol methyltransferase cDNA Arnqvist, L., P. C. Dutta, et al. (2003), Plant Physiol 131(4): 1792-9. Abstract: Transgenic potato (Solanum tuberosum cv Desiree) plants overexpressing a soybean (Glycine max) type 1 sterol methyltransferase (GmSMT1) cDNA were generated and used to study sterol biosynthesis in relation to the production of toxic glycoalkaloids. Transgenic plants displayed an increased total sterol level in both leaves and tubers, mainly due to increased levels of the 24-ethyl sterols isofucosterol and sitosterol. The higher total sterol level was due to increases in both free and esterified sterols. However, the level of free cholesterol, a nonalkylated sterol, was decreased. Associated with this was a decreased glycoalkaloid level in leaves and tubers, down to 41% and 63% of wild-type levels, respectively. The results show that glycoalkaloid biosynthesis can be down-regulated in transgenic potato plants by reducing the content of free nonalkylated sterols, and they support the view of cholesterol as a precursor in glycoalkaloid biosynthesis. |
| Reduction of cholesterol and regression of the functional changes in coronary atherosclerosis Hansen, H. S. and T. Haghfelt (1994), Ugeskr Laeger 156(44): 6557-8. |
| Reduction of cholesterol levels following liver cell grafting in hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits Tejera, M. L., J. A. Cienfuegos, et al. (1992), Transplant Proc 24(1): 160-1. |
| Reduction of cholesterol prevents disease Kjekshus, J. and O. Faergeman (1996), Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen 116(28): 3319-20. |