Surprising vegetable could 'significantly' reduce high cholesterol, study finds - The Mirror US

Cholesterol, a fatty substance naturally produced by our bodies and found in our blood, plays a crucial role in maintaining cell health. However, it's important to note that there are "good" and "bad" types of cholesterol.

The bad guy in this scenario is low-density lipoprotein, or LDL. High levels of LDL can be detrimental to your health as it leads to the build-up of cholesterol in your arteries, affecting blood flow and potentially leading to heart disease or stroke.

Certain foods can spike cholesterol levels, while others can help bring it down to healthier levels. In a surprising turn of events, new research has revealed that onions could be instrumental in reducing high cholesterol levels.

Slash cholesterol with simple breakfast a 'top choice' for heart health

Cardiologist shares five foods to avoid to reduce risk of heart disease

In a study where onion bulb extract was administered to rodents, researchers observed a "significant reduction" in cholesterol levels, along with blood glucose levels. The Royal Society of Chemistry shed light on the 'secret properties' of onions, stating: "Chinese researchers bought a basketful of red onions from their local market and began studying the onions' health properties after feeding them to hamsters, reports Surrey Live.

"The 36 male hamsters were randomly divided into three groups and fed a high-cholesterol control diet or the two experimental diets supplemented with either one per cent onion powder (OP-1) or five per cent onion powder (OP-5) for a period of eight weeks. The powder was derived from boiling the onions before filtering and spray-drying the extract.

"The team found the groups who were fed the onion-powdered diet saw their levels of 'bad cholesterol' (low-density lipoprotein or LDL) drop, while simultaneously managing to retain high levels of "good cholesterol" (high-density lipoprotein or HDL). At weeks four and eight, cholesterol levels of the OP-5 group decreased by 11.2 per cent and 20.3 per cent compared with the control group."

Zhen Yu Chen, the lead researcher from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, stated: "Despite extensive research on onions, little is known about how their consumption interacts with human genes and proteins involved in cholesterol metabolism within the body. Our study was therefore undertaken to characterize the interaction of onions with enzymes in an attempt to explore the underlying cholesterol-lowering mechanism.

DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter.

"This study was the first of its kind to investigate the interaction of red onions with biological functions. Results demonstrated that the onions decreased cholesterol levels in a dose-dependent manner. The results support the claim that regular consumption of onions reduces the risk of coronary heart disease."

Another study, titled 'Effect of onion on blood lipid profile: A meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials,' also delved into this research. The National Library of Medicine (NLM) reported that "cardiovascular diseases are, currently, the leading cause of death globally, accounting for about one third of all deaths".

Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sport and entertainment stories.

NLM reported that: "Onion supplementation was beneficial for blood lipids, including improving plasma levels of HDL, LDL, and TC. Controlling blood lipids can effectively reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases."

NLM concluded: "Onion supplementation was beneficial to control dyslipidemia, including improving plasma levels of HDL (high-density lipoprotein), LDL (low density lipoprotein), and TC (total cholesterol), but did not reduce plasma TG (thyroglobulin) level.

"The therapeutic benefits of onion for dyslipidemia (unhealthy levels of blood lipids) need to be treated with caution considering that some of the results are not robust. It is necessary to investigate the effect of long‐term onion supplementation on dyslipidemia through large‐sample, high‐quality studies."

There are numerous causes of high cholesterol, with several being unavoidable and therefore only manageable through medication. However, there are also several factors, like diet and lifestyle, where positive changes could help reduce cholesterol to healthier levels.

The research into onion extract and cholesterol levels is still in the preliminary stages, yet health experts find the data "promising". Further investigation could reveal a vital link between onion extract and lowered blood lipid levels, potentially decreasing heart disease risk.