Regulatory/modulatory effect of prune essence concentrate on intestinal function and blood lipids

Figures & data

Figure 1. The schematic representation of the present study.

Table 1. The effect of PEC on anthropometric parameters in healthy mild hypercholesterolemic subjects.

Weeks	Groups	Weight (kg)	BMI (kg/m^2)	Body fat (%)
Initial	Placebo	64.29 ± 13.21^a	23.59 ± 4.04^a	25.99 ± 5.80^a
	PEC I	59.88 ± 11.03^a	21.57 ± 2.45^a	24.25 ± 4.14^a
	PEC II	63.50 ± 12.60^a	22.82 ± 2.98^a	25.99 ± 4.64^a
4th Week	Placebo	63.99 ± 13.66^a	23.48 ± 4.24^a	25.16 ± 4.00^a
	PEC I	59.65 ± 10.75^a	21.49 ± 2.33^a	24.39 ± 4.85^a
	PEC II	63.60 ± 12.70^a	23.02 ± 2.97^a	25.67 ± 4.66^a
Follow-up (6th week)	Placebo	63.89 ± 11.34^a	23.62 ± 4.08^a	25.56 ± 5.31^a
	PEC I	60.01 ± 11.86^a	21.25 ± 2.48^a	24.17 ± 4.22^a
	PEC II	63.31 ± 12.50^a	22.90 ± 2.68^a	25.93 ± 4.73^a

Values are expressed as means ± SD. Data within the same group bearing different superscripts letters were significantly different (p < 0.05). BMI: Body mass index.

Table 2. The effect of PEC on the intestinal microflora count in healthy mild hypercholesterolemic subjects.

Weeks	Groups	E. coli (CFU/g)	C. perfringens (CFU/g)	Lactobacillus spp (CFU/g)	Bifidobacterium spp (CFU/g)	TAB (CFU/g)
Initial	Placebo	7.79 ± 0.43^a	8.03 ± 0.31^a	8.24 ± 0.93^a	7.99 ± 0.66^a	9.60 ± 0.32^a
	PEC I	7.99 ± 0.28^a	8.03 ± 0.43^a	8.09 ± 0.51^c	7.06 ± 0.53^c	9.36 ± 0.30^b
	PEC II	7.67 ± 0.20^a	8.02 ± 0.44^a	8.09 ± 0.69^c	7.52 ± 0.64^c	9.25 ± 0.70^b
2nd Week	Placebo	7.77 ± 0.48^a	8.03 ± 0.30^a	8.35 ± 0.52^a	8.02 ± 0.72^a	9.66 ± 0.41^a
	PEC I	7.75 ± 0.30^a	7.79 ± 0.42^b	8.24 ± 1.39^b	7.94 ± 0.59^b	9.65 ± 0.29^a,b
	PEC II	7.28 ± 0.25^b,*	7.67 ± 0.42^b,*	8.93 ± 0.66^b,*	8.61 ± 0.61^a,*	9.75 ± 0.93^a,b
4th Week	Placebo	7.80 ± 0.43^a	8.02 ± 0.31^a	8.25 ± 0.97^a	8.07 ± 0.86^a	9.64 ± 0.42^a
	PEC I	7.49 ± 0.27^b,*	7.55 ± 0.41^c,*	8.66 ± 0.86^a,*	8.37 ± 0.65^a	9.95 ± 0.34^a
	PEC II	6.95 ± 0.30^c,**	7.35 ± 0.38^b,*	9.41 ± 0.48^a,**	8.98 ± 0.53^a,*	10.21 ± 0.43^a,*
Follow-up (6th week)	Placebo	7.77 ± 0.43^a	8.21 ± 0.29^a	8.46 ± 0.56^a	8.00 ± 0.87^a	9.68 ± 0.50^a
	PEC I	7.93 ± 0.24^a	8.17 ± 0.46^a	8.02 ± 0.42^c	7.37 ± 0.43^b,c	9.30 ± 0.32^b
	PEC II	7.54 ± 0.23^a	8.16 ± 0.38^a	8.39 ± 0.41^b	7.95 ± 0.50^c	9.39 ± 0.19^b

Values are expressed as means ± SD. Data within the same group bearing different superscripts letters were significantly different (p < 0.05).

* p < 0.05,

** p < 0.01 (Placebo vs PEC I and II in 2nd and 4th week). TAB: Total anaerobic bacteria.

Table 3. The effect of PEC on the plasma lipid profile in healthy mild hypercholesterolemic subjects.

Weeks	Groups	TG (mg/dL)	TC (mg/dL)	LDL (mg/dL)	HDL (mg/dL)
Initial	Placebo	82.60 ± 16.31^a	179.10 ± 27.43^a	99.30 ± 20.20^a	58.95 ± 8.06^a
	PEC I	78.20 ± 13.67^a	173.45 ± 24.83^a	98.80 ± 26.10^a	63.70 ± 8.66^a
	PEC II	85.45 ± 23.93^a	179.40 ± 31.47^a	104.10 ± 30.36^a	58.80 ± 9.97^a
4th Week	Placebo	86.80 ± 18.40^a	174.70 ± 22.59^a	98.46 ± 18.36^a	57.30 ± 7.86^a
	PEC I	79.60 ± 15.12^a	163.20 ± 28.24^b,*	92.20 ± 25.67^b*	65.65 ± 8.88^a
	PEC II	88.21 ± 21.34^a	166.85 ± 28.45^b,**	98.34 ± 27.50^b,*	59.70 ± 10.67^a
Follow-up (6th week)	Placebo	85.01 ± 21.04^a	176.23 ± 24.45^a	99.23 ± 19.41^a	57.05 ± 9.05^a
	PEC I	78.45 ± 14.94^a	169.29 ± 29.29^a	96.45 ± 22.56^a	64.70 ± 6.01^a
	PEC II	87.35 ± 20.25^a	171.67 ± 30.63^a	103.73 ± 21.82^a	60.10 ± 9.66^a

Values are expressed as means ± SD. Data within the same group bearing different superscripts letters were significantly different (p < 0.05).

* p < 0.05,

** p < 0.01 (Placebo vs PEC I and II in 4th week).

Table 4. The effect of FPE on the oxidative indexes in healthy mild hypercholesterolemic subjects.

Weeks	Groups	TEAC (mM)	TBARS (μM)
Initial	Placebo	0.41 ± 0.02^a	0.82 ± 0.14^a
	PEC I	0.40 ± 0.05^a	0.82 ± 0.21^a
	PEC II	0.40 ± 0.07^a	0.81 ± 0.18^a
4th Week	Placebo	0.41 ± 0.06^a	0.83 ± 0.11^a
	PEC I	0.43 ± 0.05^a	0.80 ± 0.13^b
	PEC II	0.43 ± 0.06^a	0.69 ± 0.07^c,*
Follow-up (6th week)	Placebo	0.42 ± 0.03^a	0.81 ± 0.09^a
	PEC I	0.41 ± 0.06^a	0.81 ± 0.08^a
	PEC II	0.42 ± 0.05^a	0.74 ± 0.11^b

Values are expressed as means ± SD. Data within the same group bearing different superscripts letters were significantly different (p < 0.05).

* p < 0.05 (Placebo vs PEC I and II in 4th week).