Long-term orange juice consumption is associated with low LDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein B in normal and moderately hypercholesterolemic subjects

• Published in: Lipids in health and disease Vol. 12; no. 1; p. 119
• Main Authors: Aptekmann, Nancy P, Cesar, Thais B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 06.08.2013; BioMed Central
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Analysis; Apolipoprotein A-I - blood; Apolipoproteins; Apolipoproteins B - blood; Ascorbic Acid - blood; Beverages; Bioflavonoids; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Care and treatment; Cholesterol; Cholesterol - blood; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; Cholesterol, LDL - blood; Citrus; Citrus fruits; Citrus sinensis; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diet; Female; Flavones; Flavonoids; Folic acid; Folic Acid - blood; Health aspects; Homocysteine; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia; Hypercholesterolemia - blood; Hypercholesterolemia - diet therapy; Low density lipoproteins; Male; Marketing research; Middle Aged; Nutritional aspects; Orange juice; Physiological aspects; Risk factors; Studies; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1476-511X; 1476-511X
• DOI: 10.1186/1476-511X-12-119

This study investigated the hypothesis that long-term orange juice consumption (≥ 12 months) was associated with low risk factors for cardiovascular disease in adult men and women with normal and moderately high cholesterol blood levels. The sample consisted of 103 men (18-66 y) and 26 women (18-65 y); all were employees of an orange juice factory with daily access to free orange juice. The results showed that 41% of the individuals consumed 2 cups (480 mL) of orange juice per day for at least twelve months, while 59% of the volunteers are non-consumers of orange juice. Orange juice consumers with normal serum lipid levels had significantly lower total cholesterol (-11%, p <0.001), LDL-cholesterol (-18%, p < 0.001), apolipoprotein B (apo B) (-12%, p < 0.01) and LDL/HDL ratio (-12%, p < 0.04) in comparison to non-consumers, as did the consumers with moderate hypercholesterolemia: lower total cholesterol (-5%, p <0.02), LDL-cholesterol (-12%, p <0.03), apolipoprotein B (-12%, p <0.01) and LDL/HDL ratio (-16%, p <0.05) in comparison the non-consumers counterparts. Serum levels of homocysteine, HDL- cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-1, body composition and the dietary intake of food energy and macronutrients did not differ among orange juice consumers and non-consumers, but vitamin C and folate intake was higher in orange juice consumers. Long-term orange juice consumers had lower levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, apo B and LDL/HDL ratio and an improvement of folate and vitamin C in their diet.