BACKGROUND

Conifer seeds are used for food preparation in several countries. Aim of the study To assess the lipid-lowering and antiatherogenic properties of maritime pine (Pinuspinaster) seed oil.

METHODS

The effects of maritime pine oil supplementation (20% w/w) for 2 weeks were compared to those of coconut and sunflower oil in mice expressing human apolipoprotein B (hApoB). Atherosclerosis lesion development was measured in hApoB mice fed 1.25% (w/w) cholesterol and 0.05% (w/w) sodium cholate and either coconut, sunflower or maritime pine oil (20% w/w) for 8 weeks.

RESULTS

After 2 weeks of dietary treatment, plasma cholesterol (p < 0.0001), triglyceride (p < 0.0003), phospholipid (p < 0.0001) and apolipoprotein B (p < 0.0001) levels were lower in mice supplemented with maritime pine oil than in those treated with coconut oil. These effects were accounted for by a lowering of LDL-cholesterol, LDL-phospholipids and LDL-triglycerides, as well as a decrease in HDL-cholesterol and HDL-phospholipids. After 8 weeks of dietary treatment cholesterol and cholate, the mean area of aortic lesions was not statistically different between fat groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Feeding maritime pine oil is associated with major changes of lipid and lipoprotein levels in hApoB mice. However, in the long term, maritime pine oil has no preventive effect on cholesterol-induced aortic lesion development in hApoB mice.