To read article by Hari Sharma, Xiaoying Zhang, Chandradhar Dwivedi in PDF format. You can read extracts below ie abstract, conclusion and credits.
Abstract
Ghee,
also known as clarified butter, has been utilized for thousands of years in Ayurveda
as a therapeutic agent. In ancient India, ghee was the preferred cooking oil.
In the last several decades, ghee has been implicated in the increased
prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in Asian Indians due to its content
of saturated fatty acids and cholesterol and, in heated ghee, cholesterol
oxidation products. Our previous research on Sprague-Dawley outbred rats, which
serve as a model for the general population, showed no effect of 5 and 10%
ghee-supplemented diets on serum cholesterol and triglycerides. However, in
Fischer inbred rats, which serve as a model for genetic predisposition to
diseases, results of our previous research showed an increase in serum total
cholesterol and triglyceride levels when fed a 10% ghee-supplemented diet. In
the present study, we investigated the effect of 10% dietary ghee on microsomal
lipid peroxidation, as well as serum lipid levels in Fischer inbred rats to
assess the effect of ghee on free radical mediated processes that are
implicated in many chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease. Results
showed that 10% dietary ghee fed for 4 weeks did not have any significant
effect on levels of serum total cholesterol, but did increase triglyceride
levels in Fischer inbred rats. Ghee at a level of 10% in the diet did not
increase liver microsomal lipid peroxidation or liver microsomal lipid peroxide
levels. Animal studies have demonstrated many beneficial effects of ghee,
including dose-dependent decreases in serum total cholesterol, low density
lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), and triglycerides;
decreased liver total cholesterol, triglycerides, and cholesterol esters; and a
lower level of nonenzymatic-induced lipid peroxidation in liver homogenate.
Similar results were seen with heated (oxidized) ghee which contains
cholesterol oxidation products. A preliminary clinical study showed that high
doses of medicated ghee decreased serum cholesterol, triglycerides,
phospholipids, and cholesterol esters in psoriasis patients. A study on a rural
population in India revealed a significantly lower prevalence of coronary heart
disease in men who consumed higher amounts of ghee. Research on Maharishi Amrit
Kalash-4 (MAK-4), an Ayurvedic herbal mixture containing ghee, showed no effect
on levels of serum cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), LDL, or
triglycerides in hyperlipidemic patients who ingested MAK-4 for 18 weeks. MAK-4
inhibited the oxidation of LDL in these patients. The data available in the
literature do not support a conclusion of harmful effects of the moderate
consumption of ghee in the general population. Factors that may be involved in
the rise of CAD in Asian Indians include the increased use of vanaspati
(vegetable ghee) which contains 40% trans fatty acids, psychosocial
stress, insulin resistance, and altered dietary patterns. Research findings in
the literature support the beneficial effects of ghee outlined in the ancient
Ayurvedic texts and the therapeutic use of ghee for thousands of years in the
Ayurvedic system of medicine.
Conclusion
For thousands of years Ayurveda has considered ghee to be the healthiest
source of edible fat. In the last several decades, ghee has been implicated in
the increasing prevalence of CAD in Asian Indians. Our previous research and
data available in the literature do not support a conclusion of harmful effects
of the moderate consumption of ghee in the general population. Our present
study on Fischer inbred rats indicates that consumption of 10% ghee may
increase triglyceride levels, but does not increase lipid peroxidation
processes that are linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Many
research studies have been published, which report beneficial properties of
ghee and herbal mixtures containing ghee. In animal studies, there was a dose-dependent
decrease in serum total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL, and triglycerides; decreased
liver total cholesterol, triglycerides, and cholesterol esters; and a lower
level of nonenzymatic-induced lipid peroxidation in liver homogenate, in Wistar
outbred rats. Similar results were obtained with heated (oxidized) ghee. When
ghee was used as the sole source of fat at a 10% level, there was a large
increase in oleic acid levels and a large decrease in arachidonic acid levels
in serum lipids. [24] In rats fed ghee-supplemented
diets, there was a significant increase in the biliary excretion of cholesterol
with no effect on the HMG CoA reductase activity in liver microsomes. [26] A 10%
ghee-supplemented diet decreased arachidonic acid levels in macrophage
phospholipids in a dose-dependent manner. Serum thromboxane and prostaglandin
levels were significantly decreased and secretion of leukotrienes by activated
peritoneal macrophages was significantly decreased. [31]
A study on a rural population in India showed a significantly lower prevalence
of coronary heart disease in men who consumed higher amounts of ghee. [40] High doses of medicated ghee decreased serum cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, and cholesterol esters in psoriasis patients. There were significant improvements in the patients' psoriasis symptoms as well. [27] MAK-4, a herbal mixture
containing ghee, increased the resistance of LDL to oxidation in hyperlipidemic
patients and had no effect on levels of serum total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, or
triglycerides in these patients. [35],[36] Other mixtures containing ghee
have shown hepatoprotective effects, [41] anticonvulsant activity, [42] effects on enhancement of
memory, and enhancement of wound healing. [43]
These positive research findings support the beneficial effects of ghee outlined in the ancient Ayurvedic texts and the therapeutic use of ghee for thousands of years in the Ayurvedic system of medicine.
Article
available online/offline on: AYU, Vol. 31, Issue-2, April-June 2010, Page
no.134-140, for more details please visit: www.ayujournal.org
Address for correspondence: Dr. Hari
Sharma, Center for Integrative Medicine and Department of Pathology, The Ohio
State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
No part of this article may be reproduced in full or part without written permission of the Ayu Journal who can be contacted at ayujournal@yahoo.com