American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 64, 706-711, Copyright © 1996 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc

ORIGINAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

Do dietary phytochemicals with cytochrome P-450 enzyme-inducing activity increase high-density-lipoprotein concentrations in humans?

MN Nanjee, H Verhagen, G van Poppel, CJ Rompelberg, PJ van Bladeren and NE Miller
Department of Cardiovascular Biochemistry, St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College, London, United Kingdom.

Low plasma concentrations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) are associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease. Several drugs that induce the microsomal cytochrome P-450-dependent enzyme system in liver and intestine, the sites of HDL apolipoprotein (apo) A-I and A-II synthesis, raise plasma HDL concentrations in humans. To test the hypothesis that phytochemicals with cytochrome P-450-inducing activity may also increase plasma HDL concentrations, two controlled dietary trials were undertaken in healthy nonsmoking males aged 20-28 y. One study examined the effect of replacing 300 g glucosinolate-free vegetables with 300 g Brussels sprouts/d for 3 wk. The other study examined the effects of 150 mg eugenol/d in capsule form, using a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design. There were no significant increases in plasma apo A-I, apo A-II, HDL cholesterol, or HDL phospholipids. These results suggest that dietary phytochemicals that induce members of the cytochrome P-450 system do not necessarily raise plasma HDL concentrations in humans, but do not exclude the possibility that some phytochemicals may have such an effect.

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