Eggplant (Solanum melongena) extract does not alter serum lipid levels.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effect of eggplant extract on serum lipid levels with that of lovastatin.

METHODS

The study included 21 individuals of both sexes, with total cholesterol (TC) levels > 200 mg/dL, no diabetes, no contraindication for the use of statins, and no use of cholesterol-lowering drugs, divided into the following 3 groups: 1) the eggplant group (B), in which the patients drank 1 glass of eggplant extract with orange juice before breakfast each morning; 2) the statin group (E), in which the patients received 20 mg of lovastatin in the evening after dinner; 3) control group (C), in which the patients received no treatment. Total cholesterol and fractions (HDL, LDL), and triglycerides were measured 3 times at 3-week intervals.

RESULTS

The baseline lipid levels were similar in the 3 groups. After 6 weeks, a significant reduction in TC levels (from 245.29 +/- 41.69 to 205.71 +/- 46.45; P=0.02) and in LDL-cholesterol levels (from 170.83 +/- 41.76 to 121.29 +/- 44.90; P=0.008) was observed in group E. In group B, total cholesterol (from 230.60 +/- 19.30 to 240.20 +/- 16.22; P=0.27) and LDL-cholesterol (from 139.60 +/- 21.49 to 154.40 +/- 9.66; P=0.06) showed no statistically significant variation, as in group C. No significant variation was observed in the HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the 3 groups throughout the study.

CONCLUSIONS

The eggplant extract with orange juice is not to be considered an alternative to statins in reducing serum levels of cholesterol.