Figure 1

Experimental protocol. Male Wistar rats were fed with normal or 2% cholesterol and 0.25% cholic acid enriched diet to induce experimental hyperlipidemia. At week 8, fasting blood cholesterol and triglyceride measurement were performed in order to verify the development of hyperlipidemia. Both normolipidemic and hyperlipidemic rats were then fed with placebo or a mixture of vitamins, micro and trace elements (VMTP) supplemented with phytosterol for 4 weeks. At week 12, fasting blood cholesterol and triglyceride measurement were performed to monitor the effect of VMTP supplemented with phytosterol on hyperlipidemia. Hearts were then isolated, perfused according to Langendorff and subjected to a 30-min coronary occlusion followed by 120 min reperfusion to measure infarct size.