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A high-sugar and high-fat diet impairs cardiac systolic and diastolic function in mice
Salvatore Carbone1, Adolfo G Mauro2, Eleonora Mezzaroma3
1VCU Pauley Heart Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia; Victoria Johnson Research Laboratories, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia; Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Insights
A Western diet rich in saturated fat and sugar impairs heart function in mice, affecting both systolic and diastolic parameters. Reversing to a standard diet partially restored cardiac function, suggesting diet
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Nutritional Science
- Animal Models of Disease
Background:
- Heart failure (HF) is a syndrome of cardiac dysfunction.
- Unhealthy diets are linked to obesity and heart disease.
- The direct impact of diet on HF development and progression is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of a Western diet (WD) on cardiac function in mice.
- To determine if WD directly impairs systolic and diastolic function.
- To assess the reversibility of diet-induced cardiac dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- Mice were fed a standard diet (SD) or a WD (high fat/sugar).
- Cardiac function (systolic/diastolic) was assessed using echocardiography and cardiac catheterization.
- A diet-washout group (WD then SD) was included.
Main Results:
- WD significantly reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), indicating impaired systolic function.
- WD significantly increased isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT), myocardial performance index (MPI), and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), indicating impaired diastolic function.
- Dietary washout partially reversed systolic and diastolic dysfunction.
Conclusions:
- A diet high in saturated fat and sugar impairs cardiac systolic and diastolic function in mice.
- Dietary interventions may be relevant for HF prevention and treatment.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of diet-induced cardiac dysfunction.
Background:
Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome characterized by dyspnea, fatigue, exercise intolerance and cardiac dysfunction. Unhealthy diet has been associated with increased risk of obesity and heart disease, but whether it directly affects cardiac function, and promotes the development and progression of HF is unknown.
Methods:
We fed 8-week old male or female CD-1 mice with a standard diet (SD) or a diet rich in saturated fat and sugar, resembling a "Western" diet (WD). Cardiac systolic and diastolic function was measured at baseline and 4 and 8 weeks by Doppler echocardiography, and left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic pressure (EDP) by cardiac catheterization prior to sacrifice. An additional group of mice received WD for 4 weeks followed by SD (wash-out) for 8 weeks.
Results:
WD-fed mice experienced a significant decreased in LV ejection fraction (LVEF), reflecting impaired systolic function, and a significant increase in isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT), myocardial performance index (MPI), and LVEDP, showing impaired diastolic function, without any sex-related differences. Switching to a SD after 4 weeks of WD partially reversed the cardiac systolic and diastolic dysfunction.
Conclusions:
A diet rich in saturated fat and sugars (WD) impairs cardiac systolic and diastolic function in the mouse. Further studies are required to define the mechanism through which diet affects cardiac function, and whether dietary interventions can be used in patients with, or at risk for, HF.
