Strawberries Added to the Usual Diet Suppress Fasting Plasma Paraoxonase Activity and Have a Weak Transient Decreasing Effect on Cholesterol Levels in Healthy Nonobese Subjects

Objective: Strawberries can improve oxidants–antioxidants balance and reduce some cardiovascular risk factors in obese subjects. Paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) is a high-density lipoprotein–associated enzyme with antioxidant properties that can protect from coronary artery disease in humans. We examined the effect of strawberry consumption on plasma PON-1 activity and lipid profile in healthy nonobese subjects.Methods: Thirty-one subjects (body mass index [BMI] 24.4 ± 4.0 kg/m2) on their usual diet consumed 500 g of strawberry pulp daily for 30 days (first course) and after a 10-day washout the cycle was repeated (second course). Fasting blood and spot morning urine samples were collected before, during, and after each strawberry course (8 time points) for determination of paraoxonase and arylesterase PON-1 activities and lipid profile. Twenty subjects served as controls with respect to cholesterol and PON-1 activities changes over the study period.Results: Strawberries decreased mean plasma paraoxonase PON-1 acti...