Antioxidant Supports Healthy Lipids

By CP Staff

A recently published clinical trial examined the effect of an isoflavone antioxidant on oxidative stress and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels. Oxidized LDL cholesterol is LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol) that has undergone localized free radical damage. Previous research has shown that oxidized LDL cholesterol is strongly associated with the development of atherosclerosis. Additionally, oxidized LDL-cholesterol levels are more predictive of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk than the standard LDL cholesterol measurements. CHD is currently the single leading cause of death in the United States.

In this new study, researchers gave 60 mg per day of the botanical constituent glabridin or placebo to healthy subjects for 6 months. After 6 months of supplementation, the subjects were evaluated for markers of oxidative stress and lipid levels including levels of oxidized LDL cholesterol.

The results showed that the group receiving glabridin had a moderate but significant reduction in cholesterol levels, with a 10 percent reduction in LDL cholesterol compared to the levels measured at the beginning of the study. The researchers also showed that the glabridin group had a 20 percent reduction in oxidized LDL cholesterol and oxidative stress, while there was no change in oxidized LDL cholesterol levels in the placebo group.

The study authors stated, “We concluded that dietary consumption of glabridin protects LDL from oxidation.”

Reference:

Carmeli E, Fogelman Y. Antioxidant effect of polyphenolic glabridin on LDL oxidation. Toxicol Ind Health. 2009 May-Jun;25(4-5):321-4.

Glabridin is found in VFM-100^™.