Effects of feeding Alfalfa on lipoproteins and creating fatty streaks in hypercholestrolemic rabbits

Cardiovascular diseases are still the leading cause of mortality in most of the countries in the world. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is a legume that because of its high nitrate and vitamin compounds and its high phytoestrogen and saponin level may be useful for the prevention of cardiovascular disorders. The current study was designed to evaluate the effect of alfalfa in the prevention and progression of atherosclerosis. In this experimental study, twenty white male rabbits were fed on basic diet for 2 weeks and were then randomly divided into 4- five-member groups. The first group was fed on basic diet, the second were fed on 1% high cholesterol diet, the third group was fed on basic diet plus alfalfa, and the fourth group was fed on high cholesterol plus alfalfa diet for 12 weeks. Fasting blood samples were collected from rabbits at the start and end of study and were used to measure biochemical factors such as total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglyceride, and fasting blood sugar. At the end of the study, autopsy samples from right and left coronary arteries and aorta were evaluated for pathological examinations. The obtained data was analyzed by means of SPSS using ANOVA test at P0.05 as the significant level. Consumption of alfalfa together with cholesterol by one group can decrease total cholesterol, LDL Cholesterol, triglyceride and increase HDL cholesterol level compared with high cholesterol diet. Formation of fatty streaks in the aorta, right coronary and left coronary arteries significantly reduced following high cholesterol plus alfalfa diet as compared with high cholesterol alone diet. Our study showed that alfalfa is effective on the prevention and progress of fatty streaks, but in order to find the exact mechanism of the process more studies are warranted.