The biological clock of blood lipids

 

Pilot study of circadian rhythm changes in human serum lipids and oxidative stress: effects of Pomegranate extract (POMx), Simvastatin, and Metformin therapies in hypercholesterolemic and diabetic patients vs. healthy subjects

The Lipid Research Laboratory, Rambam Health Care Campus, The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion- Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa

The present pilot study analyzed lipids, oxidative stress and antioxidants and their ability to affect macrophage atherogenicity, in sera from healthy subjects and from hypercholesterolemic or diabetic patients, collected during a 24 hour cycle, before and after treatment with pomegranate extract (POMx), simvastatin, or metformin.

In healthy subjects, but not in hypercholesterolemic patients, HDL-cholesterol levels showed circadian changes with maximal levels in the afternoon. In diabetics, serum LDL-cholesterol levels showed circadian rhythms, with an increase in the afternoon followed by a decrease during the evening. After POMx or metformin treatment, these circadian changes were completely abolished. We conclude that circadian rhythms exist in levels of human serum lipids, glucose, and oxidative stress, as well as in macrophage atherogenicity. Appropriate treatment (antioxidant, hypocholesterolemic, or anti-diabetic) may be indicated according to the circadian pattern.

Tony Hayek1,2#, Mira Rosenblat2#,  Nina Volkova2, Judith Attias3, Riad Mahamid1 , Shadi Hamoud1, Michael Aviram2*

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Figure explanation: “The biological clock of blood lipids”.

Circadian changes in blood levels of cholesterol, LDL (“the bad cholesterol”), HDL (“the good cholesterol”) and triglycerides , along 24 hours of the day in healthy subject.