Background: Oxidative stress is known to be an important component of cellular damage regarding hypercholesterolemia and its complications. In vitro study had demonstrated that extracts of Graptopetalum paraguayense E. Walther exhibited strong antioxidative activities. This study was aimed at investigating the effect of G. paraguayense consumption on antioxidative status and serum lipid profiles in hypercholesterolemic subjects.
Results: Eighteen hypercholesterolemic subjects were instructed to consume 100 g G. paraguayense as a serving of vegetable daily for 8 consecutive weeks. After consumption, there were no changes in waist measurement, body mass index, body fat component, blood pressure, hepatic function (serum alanine aminotransferase activity), renal function (serum creatinine, uric acid) or fasting plasma glucose levels. Daily G. paraguayense consumption significantly increased ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol levels and decreased malondialdehyde level in plasma. Furthermore, daily G. paraguayense consumption significantly increased glutathione levels, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities in erythrocyte. However, there were no significant changes in serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol after G. paraguayense consumption.
Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that consumption of G. paraguayense may increase in vivo antioxidant activities and have some protective effects in decreasing oxidative stress in hypercholesterolemic subjects.
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