Aspirin reduces blood cholesterol in copper-deficient rats: a potential antioxidant agent?

The purpose of this study was to examine whether the hypocholesterolemic effect of aspirin is to due to its antioxidant properties. Oxidative stress was induced in rats by feeding them a copper-deficient diet. Copper deficiency reduced the activity of the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lowered liver copper concentration but elevated liver iron. The combination of reduced SOD activity, high liver iron, and low liver copper resulted in an oxidative stress assessed by increased liver lipid peroxidation compared with copper-adequate controls. In addition, copper-deficient rats exhibited elevation of blood cholesterol. The administration of aspirin lowered both liver lipid peroxidation and blood cholesterol. It is suggested that the hypocholesterolemic properties of aspirin could be due to its ability to reduce oxidative stress.