Phytonutrients can be found in fruits, and the avocado contains four times more beta-sitosterol (phytosterol) and it is one of the best glutathione sources. The phytosterol is a vegetable substance whose structure is very similar to the cholesterol one and its action mechanism involves the intestinal inhibition of cholesterol absorption and the synthesis of hepatic cholesterol. The effect has an influence on the values of total plasmatic cholesterol and LDL without affecting the levels of HDL and triglycerides. The present work had the objective to analyze the influence of the consumption of the Hass avocado on the levels of total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, and hepatic and excreted cholesterol. These parameters were investigated in hipercholesterolemic Wistar rats during 30 and 60 days of experiment. At the end of 30 days, the 15% avocado diet reduced the levels of total cholesterol and LDL in comparison to the control. It was observed that for the excreted cholesterol, the best diet was the 25% of avocado since the cholesterol excretion increased with the increase of the avocado concentration. The 15% avocado diet also influenced the levels of hepatic cholesterol.
avocado; cholesterol; phytosterol; cardiovascular diseases
