Prune Suppresses Ovariectomy-Induced Hypercholesterolemia in Rats

JOURNAL: Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry 11, no. 5 (2000): 255-259

AUTHORS: Lucas, E.A., Juma, S., Stoecker, B.J. and Arjmandi, B.H.

This study investigated the efficacy of prunes on lowering cholesterol in an ovariectomized (ovx) rat model. Animals were divided into four groups: sham-operated+contol diet; ovx+control diet; ovx+5 percent prune diet and ovx+25 percent prune diet. OVX raised serum total cholesterol 22 percent compared with sham, and the 25 percent prune diet prevented this increase without affecting HDL-C. The authors report that prune exhibits hypocholesterolemic properties in an animal model of ovarian hormone deficiency.