This was demonstrated by reduced formation of lipid peroxides in LDL during its incubation with copperions (by 40%, 49%, 57%, and 59% after 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of PJ consumption, respectively).12 Figure 2. The effect of PJ consumption by patients with CAS, or by diabetic patients, on their serum oxidative stress and on serum PON1 activity. THE STIMULATORY EFFECT OF POMEGRANATE CONSUMPTION ON SERUM PARAOXONASE 1 (PON1)

Most of the serum antioxidant and anti-atherogenic Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical enzyme, PON1, is HDL-associated.20 Still, low levels of PON1 are also associated with chylomicrons and with very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), but not with LDL.21 PON1 has a protective role in the attenuation of cardiovascular diseases.22 Serum PON1 concentration and activity are better predictors of the risk for cardiovascular diseases than the PON1 genotype.23 A negative association was observed between serum PON1 activity and IMT in subjects with CHD.24 Attenuation of atherosclerosis by PON1 can result from its ability to Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical hydrolyze Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical specific oxidized lipids in lipoproteins,25 in arterial wall cells (including macrophages),26,27 and in atherosclerotic

lesions.28 The increased resistance of LDL and of HDL to oxidation after PJ administration to healthy subjects, or to patients with CAS, could have also resulted from increased serum VE-822 research buy HDL-associated PON1 activity. Indeed, a significant 18% increase in serum

PON1 activity was monitored in healthy subjects after PJ consumption for a period of 2 weeks.18 Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical In CAS patients, serum PON1 arylesterase activity significantly increased by 11%, 42%, 49%, and 83% after 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of PJ consumption, respectively (Figure 2C),12 and in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus it significantly increased by 12% after PJ consumption for 3 months (Figure 2D).19 The increment in PON1 protein could result from the direct Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical effect of PJ on PON1 expression in the liver.29 The PJ-induced increment in PON1 activity could also result from the reduction in oxidative stress, since oxidized lipids inactivate PON1.30 In addition, association of PON1 with HDL stabilizes the enzyme and stimulates its lactonase activity.20 In diabetic patients, PON1 dissociates from HDL, and as a consequence, second it is less biologically active.31 We thus investigated the effects of PJ and POMxl (an extract of the pomegranate outer peel) consumption on PON1 association with HDL in diabetic patients.32 HDL-associated PON1 arylesterase and lactonase activities increased significantly after PJ consumption, by 34%–45%, as compared to the baseline levels (Figure 3). In male patients who consumed POMxl, and in female patients who consumed PJ, a similar pattern was observed, although to a lesser extent.