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Oligomeric proanthocyanidins, as present in the complex phyto-nutrient MASQUELIER’s® Original OPCs, significantly prolong the lag phase of LDL oxidation. The lag phase in LDL oxidation reflects its antioxidant status and, as a corollary, its resistance to oxidation. This is a frequently used marker in scientific studies to show the effectiveness of a compound in attenuating LDL oxidation and therefore its potential in reducing risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.
If LDL is exposed to oxidative conditions, a lag phase precedes the oxidation of the lipids it contains. The lag phase is lengthened by antioxidants, which inhibit the initiation reaction or intercede in the following chain of oxidative events. During this lag phase these protective antioxidants, that are also present in the LDL itself, disappear with alpha-tocopherol the first to go and beta-carotene the last. The lag phase functions as a "threshold" index of the oxidation resistance of LDL. If, at the end of the lag phase the oxidative stress persists, the chain of self-destructive events continues, eventually resulting in peroxidized lipids which can then initiate the inflammatory process that culminates in the onset of atherosclerosis. These are the new results of the research project "Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins (OPCs) efficiently attenuate LDL oxidation, as determined by a lipophilic, oxidation-sensitive fluorescent probe - Elucidation of Biochemical Mechanisms of Action", made public by Dr. Geetha Achanta at the International Conference on Polyphenols and Health, held last week in Kyoto ( Japan). The research was performed in The Netherlands under supervision of Dr. Jan Andries Post at the Center for Cellular Architecture and Dynamics Department of the University of Utrecht. Dr. Achanta commented: "This investigation demonstrated that pre-incubation with OPCs extends the lag phase of hLDL oxidation caused by various free radical generators, and offered initial insight into the potential mechanisms by which OPCs protect human LDL. Detailed studies using synthetic lipid vesicles demonstrated that MASQUELIER’s® Original OPCs efficiently scavenges free radicals in both the aqueous and lipid phases, indicating that OPCs prolong hLDL lag phase by interrupting the lipid peroxidation reaction. These results were recently presented at the Society for Free Radical Biology and Medicine Annual Meeting in Washington DC. The results from these two studies elucidating the likely mechanisms by which OPCs attenuate hLDL oxidation, in combination with our previous studies demonstrating that OPCs significantly inhibit oxidative damage to vascular endothelial cells, provide a firm basis for further exploring this specific OPCs compound in reducing the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease." ` The outcome of this ongoing research is extremely relevant when comparing it with, for e.g., the effect of the natural form vitamin E (RRR alpha-tocopherol) present in LDL as the result of dietary supplementation. Taking daily doses of 150, 225, 800 and 1200 IU increased the LDL alpha-tocopherol content on average to 138%, 158%, 144% and 215% of the initial value. The lag phase of LDL oxidation or the LDL oxidation resistance threshold increased 118%, 156%, 135% and 175% respectively (1). With the Mean Highest Intake (MHI) value of vitamin E at 14 IU and its Recommended Label Value (RLV) at 8 IU (2), dietary supplementation levels that require excessive oral intake of this fat soluble vitamin to achieve linearly increasing lag phase gains, seem unfeasible. Moreover, such levels may come under scrutiny of legislators who seek to set diet-related maximum levels for vitamins and levels in excess of the dietary ones may subsequently be judged as medicinal. In this respect, it is of significant importance that the research performed with MASQUELIER’s® Original OPCs established that this phyto-nutrient protects LDL from oxidation by effectively scavenging free radicals and was capable of doing this in the range that has been indicated to be biologically-relevant for dietary levels of OPCs. Representing International Nutrition Company, the worldwide supplier of the MASQUELIER’s® compounds, Bert Schwitters said: "Our research data shed light on the seemingly unrelated regulatory reality imposing itself on the marketing of dietary supplements in Europe. Our conclusion is that only the biologically most efficient nutrients and "other substances", such as MASQUELIER’s® Original OPCs which are physiologically very active at dietary levels, will stand a chance to survive the ever-tightening market entry conditions set for food supplements." 1) Effect of antioxidants on oxidative modification of LDL; Esterbauer H, Puhl H, Dieber-Rotheneder M, Waeg G, Rabl H., Ann Med. 1991;23(5):573-81. 2) Vitamin and mineral supplements: a risk management model; ERNA Publication, 2004.
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