The effects of Kumquat ingestion on blood lipids, antioxidant status and estrogen metabolites in young women

• Main Author: 黃惠仙
• Other Authors: 吳文惠
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2006
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/99567409170983413940

碩士 === 國立臺灣師範大學 === 人類發展與家庭學系 === 94 === Kumquat (Fortunella) is a special fruit consumed with peel which contains high concentrations of flavonoids and d-limonene. This study is aimed to examine the effect of Kumquat consumption on levels of blood lipids, LDL oxidation, serum isoprostane and urinary estrogen metabolites. Using a cross-over design, 23 young women (age of 18-27) were randomly divided into two groups. One group took 30 g of kumquat per day for 1 menstrual cycle and then followed by their habitual diet for another menstrual cycle. The other group completed the same treatment in reverse order. Each subject started at the 6th-8th day of menstrual period. Blood and first morning urine samples were collected at baseline, the ends of habitual diet and the kumquat intervention period. Results were analyzed by ANCOVA, controlled for baseline and weight. Body weight, percent of body fat, body mass index and energy intake did not change during this trial. The levels of plasma LDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C decreased by 7.69% and 8.29%, respectively, after kumquat and were significantly different from those after habitual diet (p＜0.05). The serum total antioxidant status after kumquat increased with borderline significance (p= 0.058) as compared with that after habitual diet. No significant difference was found in the levels of plasma cholesterol, HDL-C, serum isoprostane, estradiol, lag time of LDL oxidation, LDL-TBARS, and urinary estrogen metabolites. In conclusion, kumquat intake at a dose of 30 g per day for one menstruation cycle decreases plasma LDL-C, and might possibly increase antioxidant status in young women.