Abstract
BackgroundObesity is associated with increased risks for development of cardiovascular diseases. Epidemiological studies report an inverse association between dietary flavonoid consumption and mortality from cardiovascular diseases. We studied the potential beneficial effects of dietary supplementation of red wine polyphenol extract, Provinols™, on obesity-associated alterations with respect to metabolic disturbances and cardiovascular functions in Zucker fatty (ZF) rats.Methodology/Principal FindingsZF rats or their lean littermates received normal diet or supplemented with Provinols™ for 8 weeks. Provinols™ improved glucose metabolism by reducing plasma glucose and fructosamine in ZF rats. Moreover, it reduced circulating triglycerides and total cholesterol as well as LDL-cholesterol in ZF rats. Echocardiography measurements demonstrated that Provinols™ improved cardiac performance as evidenced by an increase in left ventricular fractional shortening and cardiac output associated with decreased peripheral arterial resistances in ZF rats. Regarding vascular function, Provinols™ corrected endothelial dysfunction in aortas from ZF rats by improving endothelium-dependent relaxation in response to acetylcholine (Ach). Provinols™ enhanced NO bioavailability resulting from increased nitric oxide (NO) production through enhanced endothelial NO-synthase (eNOS) activity and reduced superoxide anion release via decreased expression of NADPH oxidase membrane sub-unit, Nox-1. In small mesenteric arteries, although Provinols™ did not affect the endothelium-dependent response to Ach; it enhanced the endothelial-derived hyperpolarizing factor component of the response.Conclusions/SignificanceUse of red wine polyphenols may be a potential mechanism for prevention of cardiovascular and metabolic alterations associated with obesity.
Highlights
Obesity is a fast growing problem that is reaching epidemic proportions worldwide, and is associated with an increased risk of premature death [1]
We demonstrate that ProvinolsTM leads to an improvement of glucose and lipid metabolism in Zucker fatty (ZF) rats, enhances cardiac function and decreases peripheral resistance
ProvinolsTM improves endothelium-dependent relaxation in both aorta and small mesenteric artery (SMA) from ZF rats and this is accompanied with an increase of vascular nitric oxide (NO) production and with a decrease of O22 release, resulting in an increase of NO bioavailability
Summary
Obesity is a fast growing problem that is reaching epidemic proportions worldwide, and is associated with an increased risk of premature death [1]. Epidemiological studies report an inverse association between dietary polyphenol consumption and mortality from cardiovascular diseases [8]. ProvinolsTM is a powerful vasodilator through the generation of NO and can act on the expression of genes protective of the cardiovascular system [11]. Due to these pleiotropic properties, polyphenols may be good candidates to correct metabolic and cardiovascular alterations associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome. Epidemiological studies report an inverse association between dietary flavonoid consumption and mortality from cardiovascular diseases. We studied the potential beneficial effects of dietary supplementation of red wine polyphenol extract, ProvinolsTM, on obesityassociated alterations with respect to metabolic disturbances and cardiovascular functions in Zucker fatty (ZF) rats
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