BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Although preclinical studies suggest that garlic has potential preventive effects on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, clinical trials and reports from systematic reviews or meta-analyses present inconsistent results. The contradiction might be attributed to variations in the manufacturing process that can markedly influence the composition of garlic products. To investigate this issue further, we performed a meta-analysis of the effects of garlic powder on CVD risk factors. MATERIALS/METHODS: We searched PubMed, Cochrane, Science Direct and EMBASE through May 2014. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed on 22 trials reporting total cholesterol (TC), 17 trials reporting LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), 18 trials reporting HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), 4 trials reporting fasting blood glucose (FBG), 9 trials reporting systolic blood pressure (SBP) and 10 trials reporting diastolic blood pressure (DBP). RESULTS: The overall garlic powder intake significantly reduced blood TC and LDL-C by -0.41 mmol/L (95% confidence interval [CI], -0.69, -0.12) (-15.83 mg/dL [95% CI, -26.64, -4.63]) and -0.21 mmol/L (95% CI, -0.40, -0.03) (-8.11 mg/dL [95% CI, -15.44, -1.16]), respectively. The mean difference in the reduction of FBG levels was -0.96 mmol/L (95% CI, -1.91, -0.01) (-17.30 mg/dL [95% CI, -34.41, -0.18]). Evidence for SBP and DBP reduction in the garlic supplementation group was also demonstrated by decreases of -4.34 mmHg (95% CI, -8.38, -0.29) and -2.36 mmHg (95% CI, -4.56, -0.15), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis provides consistent evidence that garlic powder intake reduces the CVD risk factors of TC, LDL-C, FBG and BP.
Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Fasting ; Garlic* ; Risk Factors*

Animals ; Arteriosclerosis ; blood ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Coronary Artery Disease ; blood ; Fatty Liver ; blood ; Humans ; Triglycerides ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of dietary calcium on plasma lipoprotein profile in castrated and ovariectomized hamsters.

METHODSMale, castrated, female and ovariectomized hamsters (n=36 each group) were randomly divided into three sub-groups (n=12) and fed one of the three diets containing 0, 2, and 8 g calcium per kg diet for a period of six weeks. Changes in plasma lipoprotein profile were monitored at the end of week 0, 3 and 6.

RESULTSPlasma total cholesterol (TC), non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), triacylglycerols (TG) and TC/HDL-C were decreased only in intact female and ovariectomized hamsters. In contrast, three levels of dietary calcium had no effect on lipoprotein profiles in both intact male and castrated hamsters.

CONCLUSIONBeneficial modification of lipoprotein profile by dietary calcium was gender-dependent at least in hamsters.

Animals ; Calcium, Dietary ; therapeutic use ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, Dietary ; adverse effects ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cricetinae ; Female ; Male ; Triglycerides ; blood

BACKGROUND: Endothelial dysfunction, the initial pathogenic factor in atherosclerosis, can be alleviated via transient limb ischemia. We observed the effects of regular transient limb ischemia (RTLI) on atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. METHODS: Twenty-eight rabbits were randomized to control, cholesterol, sham, ischemia groups (n = 7 each) between October 2010 and March 2011. They were fed a normal diet in the control group and hypercholesterolemic diet in other groups for 12 weeks. Six cycles of RTLI were performed once per day on the ischemia group. Serum samples were prepared to measure the total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) before the experiment (W0), at the end of weeks 4, 8, 12 (W4, W8, W12). The whole aorta was harvested at W12 and stained using Sudan IV to identify the plaque. The plaque area was measured using Image J. Results were analyzed by analysis of variance or rank sum test. RESULTS: Concentrations of TC in the cholesterol group were higher than those in the control group at W4 (29.60 [23.75, 39.30] vs. 1.00 [0.80, 1.55], Z = -2.745, P = 0.006), W8 (41.78 [28.08, 47.37] vs. 0.35 [0.10, 0.68], Z = -2.739, P = 0.006), W12 (48.32 [40.04, 48.95] vs. 0.61 [0.50, 0.86], Z = -2.739, P = 0.006). Similar results were obtained for HDL-C and LDL-C. Serum concentrations of TC, HDL-C, and LDL-C in the hypercholesterolemic groups had no differences (all P > 0.05). The percentage of plaque area in the cholesterol group was higher than that in the control group (47.22 ± 23.89% vs. 0, Z = -2.986, P = 0.003). Square root of the percentage of plaque area was smaller in the ischemia group than that in the cholesterol (0.44 ± 0.13 vs. 0.67 ± 0.18, P = 0.014) or sham groups (0.44 ± 0.13 vs. 0.61 ± 0.12, P = 0.049). CONCLUSION In hypercholesterolemic rabbits, RTLI might prevent atherosclerosis progression by reducing the percentage of plaque area.
Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; blood ; prevention & control ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Extremities ; pathology ; Hypercholesterolemia ; blood ; Ischemic Attack, Transient ; blood ; Ischemic Postconditioning ; methods ; Male ; Rabbits ; Triglycerides ; blood

The hypotensive effect of tripamide(Normonal(R)) were evaluated in 31 cases of essential hypertension. Fifteen to thirty mg of tripamide per day were administered continuously for 8 weeks. The results were as follows; 1) The systolic blood pressure was significantly lowered from 175+/-15 mmHg(Mean+/-SD) before treatment to 144+/-17 mmHg after treatment(p<0.01), and the diastolic blood pressure was significantly lowered from 106+/-11 mmHg before treatment to 90+/-12 mmHg after treatment(p<0.01). 2) The systolic blood pressure was lowered 20 mmHg or more in 25 out of 31 cases(80.7%), and the diastolic blood pressure was decreased 10 mmHg or more in 25 out of 31 cases(80.7%) at the end of 8 weeks treatement. 3) There was no significantl differences in the level of SGOT, serum cholesterol, serum electrolytes(Na+, K+, Cl-), BUN, creatinine and urinc acid before and after treatment with tripamide. 4) In most cases the subjective symptoms disappeared or became easier after tripamide treatment. 5) Profound weakness was developed in 2 cases during tripamide administration.
Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Blood Pressure ; Cholesterol ; Creatinine ; Hypertension*

Serum lipoperoxide level was measured in 103 normal Koreas by TBA method. Concomitantly serum cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol and fasting blood sugar were measured for determinining correlationship to serum lipoperoxide. The mean value of serum lipoperoxide level in normal Koreans was 2.41+/-0.45 nmoles MDA/ml. Age and serum triglyceride level were significantly correlated with serum lipoperoxide level (r=0.51, 0.25, p<0.001, p<0.02), whereas serum cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and fasting blood sugar were not.
Blood Glucose ; Cholesterol ; Fasting ; Korea ; Triglycerides

The study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of major blood components on the CT number. The CT numbers according to the various levels of hematocrit, total protein and cholesterol were checked and analysed by the dilution of pack cell, plasma and 184 complete blood cell count samples under same scanning conditions. In case of normal protein and cholesterol level(33 samples), the CT number was increased about 5.5 hounsfield unit according to 10% increase of hematocrit level: and In case of normal hematocrit and cholesterol level(39 samles), the CT number was increased about 3.5 hounsfield unit according to 1gm% increase of protein level. CT number changes were not predictable according to the changes of cholesterol level(34 samples). From these results, we concluded that major blood components should be considered in the CT number analysis of tissue.
Blood Cell Count ; Cholesterol ; Hematocrit ; Plasma Cells

37 diabetes patients (21 male and 16 female) tested peripheral blood to investigate on quantity of cholesterol, glucose and triglyceride. The results showed that the number of diabetic peoples are ranged from 40 to 70 years old. In which, highest diabetic people ratio are ranged from 40 to 50 years old and male patient ratio are higher than female. Quantity of serum glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride all increased
Diabetes Mellitus ; aged ; Cholesterol ; glucose ; Triglycerides ; Blood

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of serum glucose and lipids by on chronically lanthanum exposure in rat.

METHODSThe Wistar rats were treated with oral exposure dose 0.1, 2 and 40 mg/kg of lanthanum chloride (LaCl(3)) respectively, after 90 days the rats were sacrificed and the blood was collected for measuring the glycosylated hemoglobin A (HbA1c), the serum was used for measuring glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels.

RESULTSThere were no any differences among the control and 3 dose LaCl(3) exposed rats on the blood HbA1c and serum Glu, TG and LDL-C levels (P > 0.05). The serum TC in 0.1 and 2 mg/kg LaCl(3) dose group rats were (1.38 +/- 0.14) mmol/L and (1.37 +/- 0.26) mmol/L respectively. It was lower than that of the controls (1.57 +/- 0.14) mmol/L significantly (P < 0.05), the serum HDL-C in 0.1 mg/kg dose group rats was (0.79 +/- 0.12) mmol/L and obviously lower than that of control group rats (0.93 +/- 0.10) mmol/L (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION0.1 - 40 mg/kg LaCl(3) chronically exposed have not greater effect on serum glucose, TG and LDL-C levels in rats, but the lower dose LaCl(3) chronic exposure might cause serum TC and HLD-C level decreasing.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Environmental Exposure ; Glycated Hemoglobin A ; Lanthanum ; toxicity ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Triglycerides ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the blood lipids and risk factors such as age in middle-aged and elderly men.

METHODS1603 men aged over 50 years old who took health examinations in June 2006 in the Chinese PLA General hospital were taken into the study. The total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), fasting serum glucose (FBG), serum creatinine (Cr) and blood uric acid (UA) were detected, and the clinical data such as age, body height, body weight and blood pressure were recorded.

RESULTS(1) The detection rates of hyperlipidemia, abnormal TC, abnormal TG, abnormal HDL-c and abnormal LDL-c were 56.27%, 36.74%, 28.20%, 10.79% and 6.92% respectively, and the TC and/or TG abnormality were the majority. (2) Compared with the 50 59 years old group, the elderly men aged over 80 years old had lower detection rates of abnormal TC and abnormal HDL-c, lower levels of TC and TG and higher levels of HDL-c (P < 0.05). After adjusting for BMI, SBP, DBP, UA, FBG and CCr, the multiple regression analysis showed that the levels of TC and TG decreased by 0.097 mmol/L and 0.087 mmol/L respectively every 10 years older, while the level of HDL-c increased by 0.113 mmol/L.

CONCLUSIONThe study showed that the majority types of hyperlipidemia in middle-aged and elderly men were abnormal TC and abnormal TG. The levels of TC, TG were correlated with age positively and the HDL-c was negatively correlated with age. The blood lipids metabolism characteristics of elderly men aged over 80 years old should be considered before the treatment of hyperlipidemia.

Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; prevention & control ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Triglycerides ; blood