Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-22T20:49:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-10-26. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-08-11T03:26:12Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 Publico-12819.pdf: 1531638 bytes, checksum: 73bb6d6fd7336127fb68327a46db002f (MD5) / Introducao: Euterpe oleracea (acai) e uma fruta da regiao amazonica, cuja composicao quimica pode ser benefica para individuos com aterosclerose. Nos hipotetizamos que o consumo de Euterpe oleracea poderia reduzir o desenvolvimento da aterosclerose por uma reducao na absorcao e sintese de colesterol. Metodos: Coelhos machos Nova Zelandia foram alimentados com uma dieta enriquecida em colesterol (0.5%) por 12 semanas, quando foram aleatoriamente distribuidos para tratamento com Euterpe oleracea ou agua alem de dieta enriquecida em colesterol (0,05%) por 12 semanas adicionais. Fitosterois plasmaticos e desmosterol foram determinados por cromatografia liquida de alto desempenho e espectrometria de massa. As lesoes ateroscleroticas foram estimadas por planimetria computadorizada. Resultados: Ao sacrificio, os animais tratados com Euterpe oleracea tiveram menores niveis de colesterol total (p=0.03) e de colesterol nao-HDL (p=0.03) em comparacao aos controles. Estes animais tiveram menores areas de aterosclerose em suas aortas ((p=0.001) e menor relacao intima/media (p=0.002) em comparacao aos controles. Ao final do estudo, os valores plasmaticos de campesterol, ƒÀ-sitosterol, e desmosterol nao diferiram entre os grupos. Entretanto, os animais tratados com Euterpe oleracea mostraram menores valores para as relacoes desmosterol/campesterol (p=0.026) e desmosterol/ƒÀ-sitosterol (p=0.006) em comparacao aos controles. Conclusoes: Consumo do extrato de Euterpe oleracea marcadamente melhora o perfil lipidico e atenua a aterosclerose. Estes efeitos foram em parte relacionados a um melhor balanco entre sintese e absorcao de esterois. / Background: Euterpe oleracea (acai) is a fruit from the Amazon region, whose chemical composition may be beneficial for individuals with atherosclerosis. We hypothesized that consumption of Euterpe oleracea would reduce therosclerosis development by a decrease in cholesterol absorption and synthesis. Methods: Male New Zealand rabbits were fed a cholesterol-enriched diet (0.5%) for 12 weeks, when they were randomized to receive Euterpe oleracea extract or water plus a 0.05% cholesterol-enriched diet for additional 12 weeks. Plasma phytosterols and desmosterol were determined by ultra performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Atherosclerotic lesions were estimated by computerized planimetry. Results: At sacrifice, animals treated with Euterpe oleracea had lower levels of total cholesterol (p=0.03) and non-HDL-cholesterol (p=0.03) as compared to controls. These animals had smaller atherosclerotic plaque area in their aortas (p=0.001) and a smaller intima/media ratio (p=0.002) in comparison with controls. At the end of the study, campesterol, ƒÀ-sitosterol, and desmosterol plasma levels did not differ between groups. However, animals treated with Euterpe oleracea showed lower values for the desmosterol/campesterol (p=0.026) and desmosterol/ƒÀ-sitosterol (p=0.006) ratios as compared to controls. Conclusion: Consumption of Euterpe oleracea extract markedly improved the lipid profile and attenuated atherosclerosis. These effects were related in part to a better balance in the synthesis and absorption of sterols. / TEDE / BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertações