Obesity: Resveratrol Reduces Production of Cholesterol Carrier Protein

Obesity: Resveratrol reduces cholesterol

Supplementation with high doses of resveratrol may help counteract LDL cholesterol in overweight or obese people. In particular, the compound seems to reduce the production of apolipoprotein B, a structural and transport molecule of the so-called “bad cholesterol.”

This is reported by a study published in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Toronto (Ontario), is the first to demonstrate the effects of resveratrol on the production of hepatic and intestinal lipoproteins in humans.

ApoB-48 and ApoB-100 transport lipids

Cholesterol and triglycerides are transported in the blood as lipoprotein particles. These differ in their lipid and protein composition and are classified as: chylomicrons, VLDL (very low-density lipoproteins), IDL (intermediate-density lipoproteins), LDL (low-density lipoproteins), and HDL (high-density lipoproteins). Moving from chylomicrons to HDL, the ratio between lipid and protein content decreases. 

The protein component of these molecules is represented by apolipoproteins. LDLs, the fundamental transporters of cholesterol to tissues, have ApoB as their main apolipoprotein. There are two forms of ApoB: ApoB-48, which is produced by the intestine and is the transport protein of chylomicrons, and ApoB-100, produced by the liver, which binds to VLDL, LDL, and IDL lipoproteins. According to researchers, increased production of ApoBs in conditions of obesity, overweight, or insulin resistance may contribute to atherosclerosis. Resveratrol is a bioactive compound found in grapes and other plants, which in recent years has been attributed numerous properties. For example, thanks to its antioxidant activity, it can reduce LDL oxidation and counteract the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.

Resveratrol reduces ApoB production

The study involved 8 overweight or obese men with moderate triglyceride levels. They were divided into two groups, one receiving resveratrol followed by placebo, and the other receiving placebo first, then the supplement. Resveratrol was administered for one week at 1000 mg per day, followed by two weeks at 2000 mg per day. Analyses on the subjects at 4 and 6 weeks after treatment showed that following resveratrol administration, the production rate of ApoB-48 was reduced by 22% and that of ApoB-100 by 27%. 

Furthermore, resveratrol decreased the fractional catabolic rate, i.e., the fragmentation frequency, of ApoB-100 by 26%, while it had no effect on that of ApoB-48. Insulin sensitivity and triglyceride levels were unchanged. The clinical relevance of these data needs further investigation, as there is no net decrease in ApoB-100 concentration due to the change in catabolic rate. For ApoB-48, the lack of statistical significance could be due to the small sample size, short treatment duration, or mild hypertriglyceridemia in the subjects. However, these data are in line with a recent study where 6 months of low-dose resveratrol treatment (8 mg) decreased plasma ApoB concentration in hypercholesterolemic patients.

Resveratrol reduces LDL synthesis

According to the researchers, the results indicate that 2 weeks of high-dose resveratrol are sufficient to reduce ApoB and lipoprotein production, particularly LDL and its precursor VLDL. LDLs represent the so-called “bad cholesterol” and are associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. These results are consistent with previous studies in which resveratrol has been shown to reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Long-term studies will be necessary to evaluate the clinical potential of resveratrol in patients with high triglyceride concentrations and elevated levels of ApoB-48 and ApoB-100. To stay updated on the latest scientific news about Omega-3 subscribe to our newsletter. 

Source: Satya Dash, Changting Xiao, Cecilia Morgantini, Linda Szeto, Gary F. Lewis “High-Dose Resveratrol Treatment for 2 Weeks Inhibits Intestinal and Hepatic Lipoprotein Production in Overweight/Obese Men” Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2013 Dec;33(12):2895-901