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Published on: January 9, 2018
Effects of a flavonol-rich diet on select cardiovascular parameters in a Golden Syrian hamster model
Swati Kalgaonkar1, Heidrun B Gross, Wallace Yokoyama
1Department of Nutrition, University of California Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA.
Insights
Flavonoid-rich diets, including cranberry concentrate and rutin, may reduce cardiovascular disease risk by improving blood pressure and cholesterol levels. These diets also helped reduce abdominal fat and improve glucose metabolism in hamsters.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Cardiovascular Research
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Growing evidence suggests diets rich in flavonoids are linked to reduced cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
- Hypercholesterolemia is a significant risk factor for CVD, necessitating dietary interventions.
- Understanding the specific effects of flavonoid sources on metabolic markers is crucial for CVD prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of flavonoid-rich diets on blood pressure and cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemic hamsters.
- To compare the effects of cranberry concentrate (CE) and rutin on cardiovascular health markers against a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet (HFHC) and vitamin E supplementation.
Main Methods:
- Hypercholesterolemic Golden Syrian hamsters were fed one of four diets: HFHC, HFHC+CE, HFHC+Rutin, or HFHC+Vitamin E (Vit.E) for 12 or 20 weeks.
- Measurements included heart rate, blood pressure, abdominal fat, plasma lipid profiles (HDL-C, VLDL-C, LDL-C), aortic cholesteryl ester levels, and glucose metabolism.
Main Results:
- Diets HFHC+CE and HFHC+Rutin prevented increases in heart rate and blood pressure seen in HFHC and HFHC+Vit.E groups.
- HFHC+Rutin significantly reduced mesenteric and total abdominal fat.
- HFHC+CE, HFHC+Rutin, and HFHC+Vit.E diets lowered aortic cholesteryl ester levels; HFHC+Rutin and HFHC+Vit.E improved glucose clearance and lowered fasting glucose.
Conclusions:
- Chronic consumption of flavonoid-rich diets, specifically those containing cranberry concentrate and rutin, demonstrates beneficial effects on cardiovascular health markers.
- Flavonoids may play a role in mitigating risks associated with hypercholesterolemia and high-fat diets.
- Further research into flavonoid-based dietary strategies for cardiovascular disease prevention is warranted.
Abstract:
The concept that the consumption of a diet rich in flavonoids can be associated with a reduced risk for cardiovascular disease is becoming increasingly accepted. In the present study we investigated the effects of the following four diets on blood pressure and cholesterol ester levels in hypercholesterolemic Golden Syrian hamsters: a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet (HFHC); a HFHC with 2% cranberry concentrate powder (HFHC+CE); a HFHC with 0.1% rutin (HFHC+Rutin); and a HFHC with 30 mg/kg vitamin E (HFHC+Vit.E). Diets were fed for either 12 or 20 weeks. Over the experimental period, heart rate and blood pressure measurements increased in the animals fed HFHC and HFHC+Vit.E; in contrast, these measurements were not increased in the animals fed HFHC+CE and HFHC+Rutin. Mesenteric and total abdominal fat were significantly lower in the animals fed HFHC+Rutin than in animals fed the other three diets. Ratios of plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) to very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and of plasma HDL-C to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly higher in animals consuming HFHC+Vit.E than in animals fed the other three diets. Aortic cholesteryl ester levels were significantly lower in animals fed HFHC+CE, HFHC+Rutin, and HFHC+Vit.E at 20 weeks than in the animals fed HFHC. Fasting blood glucose concentrations were significantly lower in animals fed HFHC+Rutin and HFHC+Vit.E, and glucose clearance rates improved in animals fed HFHC+Rutin compared to animals fed the other three diets. Results obtained from this study support the concept that the chronic consumption of a flavonoid-rich diet can be beneficial with respect to cardiovascular health.
