Abstract
The antioxidant properties of aged garlic extract (AGE) on cardiovascular functioning (CF) in metabolic syndrome (MS) remains poorly studied. Here we study the AGE effects on CF in a rat model of MS. Control rats plus saline solution (C + SS), MS rats (30% sucrose in drinking water from weaning) plus saline solution (MS + SS), control rats receiving AGE (C + AGE 125 mg/Kg/12 h) and MS rats with AGE (MS + AGE) were studied. MS + SS had increased triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, insulin, leptin, HOMA index, and advanced glycation end products. AGE returned their levels to control values (p < 0.01). Cholesterol was decreased by AGE (p = 0.05). Glutathion and GPx activity were reduced in MS + SS rats and increased with AGE (p = 0.05). Lipid peroxidation was increased in MS + SS and AGE reduced it (p = 0.001). Vascular functioning was deteriorated by MS (increased vasocontraction and reduced vasodilation) and AGE improved it (p = 0.001). Coronary vascular resistance was increased in MS rats and AGE decreased it (p = 0.001). Cardiac performance was not modified by MS but AGE increased it. NO measured in the perfusate liquid from the heart and serum citrulline, nitrites/nitrates were decreased in MS and AGE increased them (p < 0.01). In conclusion, AGE reduces MS-induced cardiovascular risk, through its anti-oxidant properties.
Highlights
The risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) increases in metabolic diseases which have a high prevalence in modern societies such as obesity, metabolic syndrome (MS), and/or type-2 diabetes mellitus [1]
Due to the lack of reports on the antioxidant properties of aged garlic extract (AGE) on cardiovascular functioning in subjects with MS and of the contradictory results reported in subjects with type-2 diabetes at risk of developing CVD, in this paper we study the protective effects of AGE on the cardiovascular function in a rat model with MS
Rats ingesting the high sucrose diet and receiving SS (MS + SS) exhibited more than three of the signs that constitute the cluster of MS; namely they had significantly increased levels of TG, systolic blood pressure (SBP), insulin, HOMA index, leptin, and AGEs in comparison with C + SS and MS + AGE (p < 0.05, p = 0.01 and p = 0.001 respectively, Table 1)
Summary
The risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) increases in metabolic diseases which have a high prevalence in modern societies such as obesity, metabolic syndrome (MS), and/or type-2 diabetes mellitus [1]. Extracts of raw garlic soaked in aqueous ethanol under ambient environments for over four months or longer, known as aged garlic extracts (AGE), contain phytochemicals such as water and lipid soluble organosulfur compounds, allicin, and selenium which protect against oxidative damage [5]. There are even reports stating that the treatment with AGE had no significant effect upon metabolic parameters including insulin resistance (IR) in subjects with type-2 diabetes at risk of developing CVD [10]. Due to the lack of reports on the antioxidant properties of AGE on cardiovascular functioning in subjects with MS and of the contradictory results reported in subjects with type-2 diabetes at risk of developing CVD, in this paper we study the protective effects of AGE on the cardiovascular function in a rat model with MS. The MS is induced in these rats by a high ingestion of sucrose (30%) in drinking water for 24 weeks
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