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Dietary Onion Intake as Part of a Typical High Fat Diet Improves Indices of Cardiovascular Health Using The Mixed Sex Pig Model

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Abstract.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential health benefits of onions consumed at two levels of intake, using the pig model. The dietary fat content was set at a level typical of a “western” diet (25% w/w). Fifteen female and fifteen male pigs (Large White × Landrace) were allocated to one of three dietary treatments in a randomised block design. Treatments consisted of control diet (no onion) and onion supplementation at either 8.6 or 21.4 g of onion/MJ DE fed for six weeks. Onion consumption reduced plasma triglyceride levels by 15% (P=0.030) regardless of sex and onion dose. Total plasma cholesterol and cholesterol fractions were unaffected by onion supplementation (P > 0.050). The bioactivity of onion was evident in haematocrit measures, where red blood cell and haemoglobin were significantly reduced in a dose dependant manner (P < 0.001 and P=0.011, respectively), while other cell counts, with exception of segmented neutrophils (−18%, P=0.012), were largely unaffected. Serum oxidative status was improved (P=0.007) in pigs consuming onions. These data demonstrate that consumption of onions can have positive health effects in both male and female pigs consuming a high fat diet.

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Abbreviations

APTT:

activated partial prothrombin time

BW:

body weight

CSO:

cysteine sulfoxide

EDTA:

ethylenediamine tetra acetic acid

ET50 :

estimated time to reach 50% of maximal lipoprotein oxidation

HDL:

high density lipoprotein

LDL:

low density lipoprotein

MCH:

mean cell haemoglobin

MCV:

mean cell volume

N:L:

neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio

PCV:

packed cell volume

PT:

prothrombin test

RBC:

red blood cell

Rmax:

reaction maximum

TG:

triglycerides

TXB2 :

thromboxane B2

WBC:

white blood cells

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Lewis Lydon (Enzazaden Australia Ltd, Narromine Research Station, Narromine, NSW, Australia) for sourcing the onions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Primary Industries, 600 Sneydes Rd, Werribee, VIC, 3030, Australia

    NICHOLAS K. GABLER, EWA OSROWSKA, BRENDAN G. TATHAM & FRANK R. DUNSHEA

  2. Department of Primary Industries, Institute for Horticultural Development, Knoxfield, VIC, 3176, Australia

    MICHEAL IMSIC & DAVID R EAGLING

  3. School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia

    MARK JOIS

Authors
  1. NICHOLAS K. GABLER
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  2. EWA OSROWSKA
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  3. MICHEAL IMSIC
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  4. DAVID R EAGLING
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  5. MARK JOIS
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  6. BRENDAN G. TATHAM
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  7. FRANK R. DUNSHEA
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Correspondence to FRANK R. DUNSHEA.

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GABLER, N.K., OSROWSKA, E., IMSIC, M. et al. Dietary Onion Intake as Part of a Typical High Fat Diet Improves Indices of Cardiovascular Health Using The Mixed Sex Pig Model. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 61, 179–185 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-006-0030-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-006-0030-8

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