HDL biology
Red pepper supplementation lowers CETP activity and improves the lipid profile in cholesterol-fed rabbits (Clin Chim Acta 2003)
Original title: Red pepper attenuates cholesteryl ester transfer protein activity and atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbits
Rabbits fed a 1% cholesterol diet with a 1% red pepper powder supplement for 12 weeks had significantly lower CETP activity than unsupplemented controls throughout the study (P<0.05). The red pepper group also showed significantly lower total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol, VLDL-triglyceride, and atherogenic index, and significantly higher HDL-cholesterol, alongside increased fecal triglyceride excretion (all P<0.05). Morphological examination showed fewer fat droplet deposits in the red pepper group. The authors conclude red pepper attenuates atherosclerosis, and plasma CETP appears to serve as a risk marker of atherosclerosis in this cholesterol-fed rabbit model.
Original abstract
Background: The current study was conducted to examine the effect of red pepper supplementation on cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity, along with its anti-atherosclerotic effect in cholesterol-fed rabbits.
Methods: Rabbits were fed a 1% cholesterol diet for 12 weeks, including a 1% red pepper powder supplement.
Results: The red pepper supplemented group exhibited significantly lower CETP activity than the control group during the experimental period (P<0.05). The total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), LDL-C, VLDL-C, and VLDL-TG levels and atherogenic index (AI) were all significantly lower in the red pepper group than in the control group (P<0.05), whereas the HDL-C level was significantly higher in the red pepper group than in the control group during the experimental period (P<0.05). Furthermore, the red pepper supplementation increased the fecal TG excretion (P<0.05). Based on a morphological examination, the red pepper supplemented group exhibited fewer fat droplet deposits than the control group.
Conclusions: The current results suggest that red pepper attenuates atherosclerosis, plus plasma CETP would appear to be a risk marker of atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbits.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.