Eat more pumpkin! The gourd prevents heart complications associated with obesity

Researchers from Birjand University of Medical Sciences in Iran have found that pumpkins can prevent cardiovascular diseases associated with obesity. The study, published in the Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, examined the anti-obesity effects of pumpkin in obese mice.

• Pumpkin is rich in powerful antioxidants and lipid-lowering, and it possesses anti-diabetic properties.
• For the study, the researchers randomly divided 30 adult mice into five groups: a healthy control group, a dietary fatty control group, and three experimental dietary fatty mice that received pumpkin extract once a day at doses of 100 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg), 200 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg, respectively.
• The treatment period lasted for six weeks.
• After the treatment period, the researchers measured the lipid profile, atherogenicity, liver enzymes, and oxidative stress status of the mice.
• Results revealed that the pumpkin extract, in a dose-dependent manner, significantly reduced triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, while greatly increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.
• The pumpkin extract also increased glutathione level compared to the obese control group.

In conclusion, pumpkin can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease associated with obesity by reducing oxidative stress and improving cholesterol levels.

To read more stories on natural ways to prevent heart disease, visit HeartDisease.news today.

Journal Reference:

Ghahremanloo A, Hajipour R, Hemmati M, Moossavi M, Mohaqiq Z. THE BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF PUMPKIN EXTRACT ON ATHEROGENIC LIPID, INSULIN RESISTANCE AND OXIDATIVE STRESS STATUS IN HIGH-FAT DIET-INDUCED OBESE RATS. Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine. 24 October 2017; 15(2). DOI: 10.1515/jcim-2017-0051