Recent research has found that a compound found in the peels of citrus fruit has the potential to lower cholesterol more effectively than some prescription drugs.
The study, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, was conducted by the US Department of Agriculture and KGK Synergize, a Canadian nutraceutical company.
Shows promise in animal studies
Researchers identified a class of compounds isolated from orange and tangerine peels that shows promise in animal studies as a potent, natural alternative for lowering LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol), without the possible side effects, such as liver disease and muscle weakness, of conventional cholesterol drugs.
The compounds, called polymethoxylated flavones (PMFs), are similar to other plant pigments found in citrus fruits that have been increasingly linked to health benefits, including protection against cancer, heart disease and inflammation.
Most potent of citrus flavonoids
The study is believed to be the first to show that PMFs can lower cholesterol and that PMFs have the most potent cholesterol-lowering effect of any other citrus flavonoid. The scientists believe that PMFs have the potential to rival and even beat the cholesterol-lowering effect of some prescription drugs, without the risk of side effects.
PMFs are found in a variety of citrus fruits. The most common citrus PMFs, tangeretin and nobiletin, are found in the peels of tangerines and oranges. They are also found in smaller amounts in the juices of these fruits.
Lowered LDL cholesterol by up to 40%
Using hamster models with diet-induced high cholesterol, the researchers showed that feeding them food containing 1% PMFs lowered levels of LDL cholesterol by 32% to 40%.
Previous animal studies by others have shown that similar flavonoids, particularly hesperidin from oranges and naringin from grapefruit, also may have the ability to lower cholesterol, although not as effectively as PMFs. Also, the scientists stated that treatment with PMFs did not appear to have any effect on levels of HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol).
Human study now in progress
The researchers are currently exploring the compound's mechanism of action on cholesterol metabolism. They now suspect, based on early results in cell and animal studies that it works by inhibiting the synthesis of cholesterol and triglycerides inside the liver.
A long-term human study of the effect of PMFs on high LDL cholesterol is also in progress.
