Long-Term Supplementation of Black Elderberries Promotes Hyperlipidemia, but Reduces Liver Inflammation and Improves HDL Function and Atherosclerotic Plaque Stability in Apolipoprotein E-Knockout Mice.

Abstract

SCOPE:

HDL particles are protective against atherosclerosis, but may become dysfunctional during inflammation and chronic disease progression. Anthocyanin-rich foods, such as the black elderberry, may improve HDL function and prevent disease development via antioxidant and/or anti-inflammatory effects. This study investigates the long-term consumption of black elderberry extract (BEE) on HDL function and atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein (apo) E-/- mice.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

ApoE-/- mice (n = 12/group) are fed a low-fat diet, supplemented with 0, 0.25%, or 1% (by weight) BEE (≈37.5-150 mg anthocyanins per kg body weight) for 24 weeks. Feeding 1% BEE increases total serum cholesterol (+31%) and non-HDL cholesterol (+32%) compared with the control diet. PON1 arylesterase (+32%) and lactonase (+45%) activities also increase with the 1% BEE diet. Both 0.25% BEE and 1% BEE diets strongly increase HDL cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) by 64% and 85%, respectively. Further, BEE dose-dependently lowers serum liver enzymes and hepatic inflammatory gene expression. Although there is no change in neutral lipid accumulation in atherosclerotic lesions, BEE promotes connective tissue deposition in the aortic root.

CONCLUSIONS:

Chronic BEE supplementation in apoE-/- mice dose-dependently improves HDL function. Despite BEE promoting hyperlipidemia, which likely offsets HDL effects, BEE increases connective tissue content, suggesting improved atherosclerotic plaque stability.

• Authors: Courtney L Millar, Gregory H Norris, Christina Jiang, James Kry, Addison Vitols, Chelsea Garcia, Young-Ki Park, Ji-Young Lee, Christopher N Blesso
• Journal: Molecular nutrition & food research (Mol Nutr Food Res) Vol. 62 Issue 23 Pg. e1800404 (12 2018) ISSN: 1613-4133 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 30267603 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)
• Copyright: © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Chemical References

• Enzymes
• Lipoproteins, HDL
• Plant Extracts
• Cholesterol
• Aryldialkylphosphatase
• PON1 protein, mouse

Topics

• Animals
• Aryldialkylphosphatase (metabolism)
• Body Weight (drug effects)
• Cholesterol (blood)
• Dietary Supplements (adverse effects)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Enzymes (genetics)
• Gene Expression Regulation (drug effects)
• Hepatitis, Animal (diet therapy)
• Hyperlipidemias (chemically induced)
• Lipoproteins, HDL (metabolism)
• Liver (drug effects, enzymology)
• Male
• Mice, Knockout, ApoE
• Plant Extracts (administration & dosage, adverse effects, pharmacology)
• Plaque, Atherosclerotic (diet therapy)
• Sambucus nigra (chemistry)