Almond Skin Flavonoids Prevent LDL Oxidation

Almond Skin Flavonoids Prevent LDL Oxidation

BOSTON--Tufts University scientists found almond skin flavonoids possess antioxidant activity in vitro, according to a report published in the June issue of the Journal of Nutrition (135:1366-73, 2005). The study results also revealed the almond flavonoids work with vitamins E and C to protect against lipid peroxidation in hamsters.

Researchers from the Jean Mayer U.S. Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Center extracted flavonoids from almond skins and studied them in vitro, assessing bioactivity by their capacity to increase resistance of human LDL cholesterol to oxidation. Adding vitamin E and ascorbic acid to the extract increased the benefit two-fold, a result the scientists verified in hamsters. They reported this is the first study of the bioactivity and bioavailability of flavonoids from almond skins.