Naringin reduces artery plaque in mice by changing cholesterol processing and gut bacteria

Naringin reduced serum and liver cholesterol levels by 24.04% and 28.37% respectively in mice fed a high-fat diet.

• Naringin significantly alleviated atherosclerosis in ApoE-deficient mice.
• A large amount of naringin was present in the colon after oral intake, potentially affecting gut microbiota.
• Naringin increased the excretion of bile acids and neutral sterols by 1.6- and 4.3-fold, respectively.
• The modulation of gut microbiota was identified as a key pathway in the alleviation of atherosclerosis by naringin.
• Changes in the gut microbiota included alterations in bacteria that influence bile acid synthesis from cholesterol.

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