Abstract
Functional food intake has been highlighted as a strategy for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases by reducing risk factors. In this study, we compared the effects of oral treatment with soy milk and simvastatin on dyslipidemia, left ventricle remodeling and atherosclerotic lesion of LDL receptor knockout mice (LDLr-/-) fed a hyperlipidic diet. Forty 3-month old male LDLr-/- mice were distributed into four groups: control group (C), in which animals received standard diet; HL group, in which animals were fed a hyperlipidic diet; HL+SM or HL+S groups, in which animals were submitted to a hyperlipidic diet plus soy milk or simvastatin, respectively. After 60 days, both soy milk and simvastatin treatment prevented dyslipidemia, atherosclerotic lesion progression and left ventricle hypertrophy in LDLr-/- mice. These beneficial effects of soy milk and simvastatin were associated with reduced oxidative stress and inflammatory state in the heart and aorta caused by the hyperlipidic diet. Treatment with soy milk was more effective in preventing HDLc reduction and triacylglycerol and VLDLc increase. On the other hand, simvastatin was more effective in preventing an increase in total cholesterol, LDLc and superoxide production in aorta, as well as CD40L both in aorta and left ventricle of LDLr-/-. In conclusion, our results suggest a cardioprotective effect of soy milk in LDLr-/- mice comparable to the well-known effects of simvastatin.
Highlights
Dyslipidemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) such as coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and peripheral arterial disease, which are still the world’s leading cause of death [1]
Soy milk and simvastatin treatment prevented the increase in TG, total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) and VLDc, as well as the decrease in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc)
Soy milk was more effective than simvastatin in preventing the increase in serum levels of TG and VLDLc and the decrease in HDLc caused by the hyperlipidic diet
Summary
Dyslipidemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) such as coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and peripheral arterial disease, which are still the world’s leading cause of death [1]. Serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc)-lowering drugs have been reported to decrease CVD morbimortality through interruption, reversion or prevention of vascular injury and left ventricle hypertrophy (LVH) associated with primary and secondary dyslipidemias [2,3]. Oxidative stress has been associated with dyslipidemia, and several studies suggest an important relationship between cardiovascular oxidative stress, inflammation, atherosclerotic disease, and LVH [2,4]. Vascular inflammation has a crucial role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, accelerating atheroma plaque formation, progression, and plaque destabilization and rupture, which precedes CVD clinical outcomes [4]. Upregulation of CD40 receptor and its ligand CD40L in vascular tissue and left ventricle (LV) are found during all stages of atherosclerosis [7] and LVH associated with dyslipidemia [2]
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