Obesity: resveratrol reduces production of cholesterol transporter protein

Obesity: resveratrol reduces cholesterol

Supplementation with high doses of resveratrol would help fight LDL cholesterol, in obese or overweight people. In particular, the compound appears to reduce the production of apolipoprotein B, a structural and transport molecule of so-called "bad cholesterol."

This is reported in research published in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology . The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Toronto (Ontario),is the first to demonstrate the effects in humans, of resveratrol on hepatic and intestinal lipoprotein production.

ApoB-48 and ApoB-100 transport lipids

Cholesterol and triglycerides are transported in the blood in the form of lipoprotein particles. These differ in their different lipid and protein composition and are distinguished into: chylomicrons, VLDL (very low density lipoproteins), IDL (intermediate density lipoproteins), LDL (low density lipoproteins) and HDL (high density lipoproteins). Moving from chylomicrons to HDL, the ratio of lipid content to protein content decreases. 

The protein component of these molecules is represented by apolipoproteins. LDLs, the fundamental transporters of cholesterol to tissues, possess ApoB as their main apolipoprotein. There are two forms of ApoB: ApoB-48, which is produced by the intestine and is the chylomicron transport protein, and ApoB-100, produced by the liver, which binds to VLDL, LDL, and IDL lipoproteins According to researchers, increased production of ApoB under conditions of obesity, overweight, or insulin resistance may contribute to atherosclerosis. Resveratrol is a bioactive compound found in grapes and other vegetables to which, in recent years, numerous properties have been attributed.For example, due to its antioxidant activity it can reduce LDL oxidation and counteract the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.

Resveratrol reduces the production of ApoB

The study involved 8 overweight or obese men with moderate triglyceride levels. They were divided into two groups, one being given resveratrol followed by placebo, the other receiving first the placebo, then the supplement. Resveratrol was administered for one week in doses of 1000 mg per day, followed by two weeks in doses of 2000 mg per day. Analyses on the subjects at 4 and 6 weeks after treatment showed that following resveratrol administration, the rate of ApoB-48 production was reduced by 22% and that of ApoB-100 by 27%. 

In addition, resveratrol decreased the fractional catabolic rate, i.e., fragmentation frequency, of ApoB-100 by 26%, while it had no effect on that of ApoB-48. In contrast, insulin sensitivity and triglyceride levels were not changed. The clinical relevance of these data needs to be further investigated, as there is no net decrease in ApoB-100 concentration due to the change in catabolic rate. As for ApoB-48, on the other hand, the lack of statistical significance could be due to the lack of adequate sample amounts, the short duration of treatment, or the presence of mild hypertriglyceridemia in the subjects. However, these data are in line with a recent study, in which 6 months of treatment with low doses of resveratrol (8 mg) decreased the plasma concentration of ApoB, in patients with hypercholesterolemia.

Resveratrol reduces LDL synthesis

According to the researchers, the results indicate that 2 weeks of high doses of resveratrol are sufficient to reduce the production of ApoB and lipoproteins, particularly LDL and its precursor VLDL.LDL represents the so-called "bad cholesterol" and is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. These findings are consistent with those of previous studies in which resveratrol has been shown to reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Long-term studies will still be needed to assess the clinical potential of resveratrol, however, in patients with high triglyceride concentrations and high levels of ApoB-48 and ApoB-100. To stay up-to-date on the latest news from Omega-3 scientific research, subscribe to our newsletter. 

Source: Satya Dash, Changting Xiao, Cecilia Morgantini, Linda Szeto, Gary F. Lewis "High-Dose Resveratrol Treatment for 2 Weeks Inhibits Intestinal and Hepatic Lipoprotein Production in Overweight/Obese Men" Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2013 Dec;33(12):2895-901