Functional foods are emerging as important means for the improvement of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Watermelon is high in antioxidants, which help reduce inflammation, a risk factor for CVD. The goal of the study was to determine the effects of watermelon powder on antioxidant capacity, antioxidant enzyme activity, inflammation and lipid profiles. Forty male weanling (21 days old) Sprague‐Dawley rats were divided into four groups (10/group, total N=40) in a 2(diet) x 2(treatment) factorial design using an atherogenic diet with or without watermelon powder supplementation (0.2% by wt) for 30 days, and with or without Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS) as an inflammation inducing agent for 48 hours. Watermelon powder groups exhibited significantly lower serum triglycerides (P=0.031), total cholesterol (P<0.001), LDL‐cholesterol (P<0.001), C‐reactive protein levels (P=0.001) and lactate dehydrogenase (P<0.001) and significantly higher HDL‐cholesterol levels (P=0.041). Total antioxidant capacity was greater in watermelon powder groups (P=0.049). These findings support watermelon powder use to improve risk factors for CVD by altering antioxidant status, inflammation and lipid profiles.
Grant Funding Source: Supported by NUTR 302L class
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