Fruitful research into cardiovascular disease

New research suggests that adding a grapefruit or half a cup of grapefruit juice lowers ‘bad’ cholesterol in atherosclerotic patients.

The results could have great influence on the treatment of cardiovascular conditions, although further investigation is still needed, claim scientists from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. 

Israeli researchers say that both red and white grapefruit worked equally well in decreasing ‘bad’ cholesterol levels.

However, red grapefruit was more effective in lowering triglyceride levels – an important factor in the development of atherosclerosis.

Like other citrus fruits, grapefruit is rich in antioxidants, particularly flavinoids.

Although the results look promising, patients will not be advised to discontinue the standard cholesterol medicine, a class of drugs called statins.

In fact, previous studies have shown that an adverse reaction can erupt from the interaction between citrus fruits and statins.

Such fruits may reduce statins’ effectiveness and the flavinoids may trigger a drug-induced rhabdomyolysis, a rare condition that causes muscles to breakdown.

Further trials will potentially be carried out on both healthy and atherosclerotic patients to fully assess the effects of flavinoids on cholesterol.

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