EFFECTS OF CITRUS LIMONBURM. F. ON SOME ATHEROSCLEROSISRISK FACTORS IN RABBITS WITH ATHEROGENIC DIET

Dietary polyphenols have been shown to possess cardio protective effects. recently,dietary citrus flavonoid s have been associated with reduced risk of coronary heart disea sein epidemiological studies. so, this study was designed to determine the effects of citrus limonburm, f. juice and peel on cardiovascular risk factors in male rabbits with atherogenic diet .methods: forty rabbits were randomly divided into four groups and tr eated 2 months as follows:1: hypercholesterolemic diet (hcd), 2 and 3: hcd + lemon juice (scc daily) and lemondried peel (ig daily), respe ctively and 4: normal diet. at the baseline and th e end ofthe study inaddition to weight, biochemical factors (fbs, tc, tg, apoa1, apobloo, ldl, hdl) were measuredin the rabbits, blood pressure measurements were conducted directly after th e mt erven tion.results: compared with 4th group total cholesterol was significantly increased during thestudy in 3 first groups (p = 0.00). results for hdl and ldl cholesterol were the same (p =0.00). but compared with cont rol group (first group), only ldl cholesterol mean value was significantlyincreased in group 2 (lemon juice consumer) after intervention (p -co.og). and for apolipoproteins,only apoeloo was significantly increased in group 3 (lemon peel consumer) incomparison with control group after the intervention (p < 0.05).weight and fbs have not been significantly changed between th e groups after interventions. also,blood pressures did not show any significant difference between the groups.conclusion: we conclude th at opposite to high amount of antioxidants in sore lemon, itnot only was able to control th e hyperlipidemic effects of an atherogenic diet but also increasedserum ldl level and apo b. but decision about antiatherogenic effect of this fruit, 1n111 be madeafter defining pathologic results.